'M 




Class J. 
Book., ,H'lVV' 
Gopyiight W 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT! 



HISTORT 



TO^V^' OF HO I. LIS, 



NEW IIAMTSHIRE. 



/•'roiii its /■''irst Scttlenn)/! io t/ic I'ear iHji;. 



WITH MANY 1?IOC;i:AI'1IICAI. SKETCHKS ok its EAKI.V SK'ITI.KKS 
TH?:iH DESCKNDANTS, AXD OTHER RESIDENTS. 



Il.I.r.STR ATKD WITH MaVS AND EnOR AVINflS. 



BY SAMUEL T. WORCESTER. 



IN MF.MOKIAM MAJOKl'M. 

•Only tlif actions of the just 

»nicll sweet and hlossnm in the ilu*.!.' 



A . W 1 Iv L I AMS cV: (M) 

:.' s :; \V a s h i x g t o n S r k v v. \ . 
1879. 



7/ 

T7\ J^! 



Entered according to Act of Congress April, 1879, 

BY SAMUEL T. WORCESTER, 

In tlie office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 






Pr,:^s of O. C. Moore, ynshiio. jV. Jl. 



TO 



THE INHABITANTS OF HOLLIS, 



AND 

THE DESCENDANTS OF ITS EARLV SETTLERS 

WHEREVER SCATTERED, 

AND TO AI.I. WHO HA^'E RESIDED IN THE TOWN, 

THIS HISTORY 

IS RESPECTFUM.V INSCRIBED, 

RV THEIR FRIEND, 

THE AUTHOR. 



LIST AND PLACE OF ENGRAVINGS. 



;}. 

4. 

'). 

(5. 

7. 

8. 

f). 
10. 
11. 
12. 

i:5. 
u. 

15. 

1«. 

17. 
18. 
10. 
20. 
21. 



24. 
2."). 



Map of Mollis, (facing title page) 

Map of 01(1 Dunstable, Holies, Merrimack and Mouse 
First and Second Meeting House .... 
Portrait of Dea. Daniel P^merson .... 
Portraits of Hon. Ralph E. Tenney and Wife . 

The Tenney Homestead 

Portraits of Jesse Worcester and Wife. 

The Worcester Homestead 

The Soldiers' Monument 

Portrait of Lieut. John H. Worcester 
Portrait of Lieut. Charles H. Farley 

Portrait of Rev. Eli Smith 

Po/-trait of Rev. Pliny 15. Day, d. i>. . 

The Third Hollis Meeting-House as Remodelled in 1840 

The High School House 

Portrait of Miss Mary S. Farley .... 

Portrait of Hon. Benjamin M. Farley . 

Portrait of Sanuiel T. Worcester .... 

Portrait of Joseph E. Worcester, i,l. d. 

Portrait of Rev. llalpli Emerson, d. d. . 

Portrait of Rev. Samuel Worcestei', d. d. 

Portrait of Rev. Calelj J. Tenney, d. d. . 

Portrait of Rev. Noah Worcester, d. i>. 

Portrait of Hon. Henry G. Little .... 

Portrait of faither Prcscott Hubbard . 



Page. 



(U 
200- 
214 
21.3 
21 G - 
217 
220 
231- 



238 ■ 

240- 

24.''. 

281 

282 

202 

20 f. 

208 

300 

302 

304 

314 

331 

332 



TO THE READER. 



As this book \vill be found to contain very many short biograph- 
ical personal sketches, it is hoped tliat it will not be looked upon 
as a matter of unpardonable egotism should it be introduced to the 
charitable reader with tlie like brief sketch of itself. Though a. 
native of Ilollis, the home of an honored ancestry for a hundred 
years and more, and mv own. in ciiildhood and \outli. it has not 
been so for the last fiftv years and more. It was my fortune to begin 
and spend a busy professional life of between thirty and forty years 
in a distant western State. 

I am not aware that while living in Hollis I gained more knowl- 
edge of its earh- liistorv and people than would ordinarily fall to 
the lot of other voung persons in the like circumstances, and the 
many years of my absence from New England tended ratlier to 
lessen than add to the little I had before acquiretl. 

But some vears after mv return to New Hampshire, having 
occasion when on a visit to Ilollis to examine one or more volumes 
of its early town records. I chanced to find in the same depository 
witli tlicm manv miscellaneous papers and documents, some scattered 
and loose, and the rest in ill-assorted packages — all relating to the 
early history of the town prior to or during the war of the Revolu- 
tion. A cursorv examination of these ancient dociunents. in con- 
nection with the older worn and mutilated volumes of the town 
records, interested me. Ilavmg at the time some leisure at com- 
mand, I said to the Town Clerk who had these papers in charge, 
that if he would entrust them for a time to me. I would put them 
in a better condition for permanent preservation. \\'ith this under- 
standing they were confided to me. Having procured for my pin- 
pose a large blank book, intended as a sort of supplement to the 
town records. I hatl it labelled "Ilollis Historical Documents." 



6 TO THE READER. 

Into this book I caused to be inserted and bound all those ancient 
documents pertaining to the early history of the town. I also caused 
to be copied into the same volume a large number of original docu- 
ments and records relating to its early history found in the offices 
of the Secretary of State and Adjutant General, both in Boston 
and Concord. There were also copied into the same book from the 
town records and methodically arranged, such other matters as 
were thought pertinent to its civil, ecclesiastical and educational 
history. 

In the meantime, as 1 had leisure, I had written a number of 
articles relating to the early settlement and Revolutionary history 
of the town, some of which had been published in the New Eng- 
land Historical and Genealogical Register, and several, in other 
periodicals. All this however had been done W'ithout any purpose 
on my part of preparing for the press a connected history of the 
tow'n, but yet with the hope that the materials so gathered might be 
preserved and some time used m the compilation of such history, 
by some one more competent to the task and less a novice in this 
kind of literary labor. 

These fugitive historical scraps, as they had l)een published from 
time to time, had been read by some of the people of the town, 
and may have led to the insertion of an article in the warrant for 
the annual jSlarch meeting in 187^5 " ^o see if the town would 
authorize the Selectmen to contract with some person to prepare 
and publish the early history of the town at its expense." By invi- 
tation I attended that meeting, and by request stated what had been 
done with the historical documents which had been entrusted to me. 
I also expressed my concurrence in the sentiment, strongly expressed 
by others, that a history of the town ought to be w^'itten, and also 
stated that though I had no pm-pose or wish myself to undertake the 
task, yet if some other person, satisfactory to the town, would under- 
take it, I would cheerfully and gratuitously place in his hands such 
materials for it as I had gathered, and also gi^■e such further aid, if 
desired, as convenient to me. After some further discussion of the 
question by others, the meeting unanimously '" voted to refer the 
article relating to the publishing the early history of HolHs to the 
Selectmen, and that they be authorized to borrow money for the 
completion of the object, if in their judgment they should think it 
advisable, and that they be authorized to employ a committee to 
act with them." 



TO THE KEAnnR. 7 

The Selectmen chosen at that meeting were Messrs. Timotliy E. 
Flagg, John A. Coburn and Charles \V. Hardy, who shortly after- 
wards appointed as a committee to act with them. Messrs. John N. 
Worcester, Joseph E. Smith, John Farley and Charles S. Spalding. 
In tlie meanwhile, no one else having been found to prepare a his- 
tory of the town as contemplated by the vote of the meeting, the 
wish was strongly expressed by tlie Selectmen and committee, that 
I would consent to undertake it. After one or more interviews 
with them, but without any specific proposals upon the subject on 
their part, or promises on mv own. I set myself about gathering 
additional materials for the work, and putting in the shape and 
order in which they now appear, such as I had before collected. 

It is needless tor mc here to speak of all the motives that led me 
to wai\ e mv objections to undertaking the task and going on with 
tlie compilation of this history, as I have now done. But among 
those motives, I may be permitted to say, was a sincere filial regard, 
not to say veneration, for the memorv and character of the early 
settlers of the town as shown by the records of their doings, among 
whom, and its inhabitants afterwards, were three generations of both 
my paternal and maternal ancestors. I also participated in the sen- 
timent felt and expressed by many others that it was but doing tardy 
justice to their memories, that their history should now be Avritten. 
accompanied by the fear, also often expressed by those interested, 
that otherwise it might not be soon, if ever. done. 

In my \ iew it would also be needless, as well as tedious, here to 
enumerate the many books and public documents which have been 
consulted in the collecting of the facts presented in this histoiy. 
The references to them, at least for the most part, will si ff ciently 
appear to the patient reader in their proper connection. Suffice it 
to sav that it has been mv aim to gather these facts from all such 
pertinent original documents as were at m\ command, and from all 
other sources that seemed to me authentic and trustworthy, whether 
books, letters of correspondents or well-established traditicv . 

It has been said by a late author. •• that one must write a book to 
know how courteous the world can be." It has been my fortune in 
the compilation of this history very fully and most cordially to 
appreciate that sentiment, and I take unfeigned pleasure in expres- 
sing my grateful acknowledgements- to the very many correspon. 
dents who have aided me. and also to the librarians of the libraries 
I have had occasion to visit, and to the custodians of the pul lie 



S TO THE HEADEfJ. 

I'ccorcLs at Boston and Concord for their imiforni courtesy and kindly 
s'smpath'V' \\ ith mv work. M\' thanks arc also due to the Select- 
men of Hollis. and to the Publication Committee, for the active in- 
terest the\- have manifested in the undertaking^-, and likewise to the 
people of the town for their imanimity and good wishes in respect 
to it. 1 further take leave to express my oblij^ations to ni}- brother 
John N. Worcester, for the man\ matters furnished by him pertain- 
hig to the local histor\ of the to\vn. and also in respect to the per- 
sonal history of many of its citizens, in regard to whom my own 
information and memorv were at fault. The readers of this his- 
tory, as well as myself personally, are also indebted to the town 
for the engravings it has furnished, and to the individuals who 
have gratuitioush' pro\ided the portraits with which the liook is 
embellished. 

For the last four years, the gathering of the materials for this 
work, and its compilation, have Inisily, and for the most part pleas- 
antly, emplo^■ed verv many of my leisure hours. Conscious as an\- 
one need he of its incompleteness and shortcomings, yet hoping to 
some extent it ma\- meet the reasonable expectations of the present 
inhabitants of Hollis and the widely scattered descendants of the 
early settlers of the town, the work is respectfully dedicated to them 
in the hope that the lessons of virtue, piety and patriotism taught in 
the lives, doings and example of their worthy ancestors will not 
soon fade from the memory of their posterity. 

S. T. W. 

Nashua, N. H., April. 1S79. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER 1. 

OLD DUNSTABLE. 

1073 to 1739. Charters of the Plymouth aiul Massachusetts Companies; 
Grants of New Hampshire to Capt. Johu Masou ; Charter of Okl Dun- 
stable ; Grantees anil Proprietors ; Origin of the Name ; Compact of the 
Grantees and Settlers; House Lots laid out; King Philip's War; First 
Meeting House and Minister ; First Birth, Marriage and Death ; King 
William's War; Queen Anne's War; Capt. Lovewell's Fight; The Return 
of Peace and its Effects; Population; First Dismemberments of Old 
Dunstable 17—30. 

CHAPTER n. 

WEST DUNSTABLE. 

1730 to 1739. Names of the First Settlers of West Dunstable, and where 
they Settled; Towns from which they came; First Petition for a Town 
Charter ; Names of the Petitioners ; Second Petition for a Town Charter ; 
Names of the Signers; liemonstrance against the Second Petition; West 
Dunstable Chartered as a Parish 31—39. 

CHAPTER in. 

THE PARISH OK WEST DUNSTABLE. 

1739 to 174G. Its Area and Boundaries; The Tax of Non-residents; The 
First Parish Meeting and First Parish Officers ; The First Meeting- 
House and its Location ; The First Parish Tax; The Non-Resident Tax 
and Disposal of It ; The District of Dunstable ; Settlement of the new 
Province Line ; Effects of the Decision ; Preaching, and the Manner 
of Providing It; The Call to Rev. Mr. Emerson, the First Minister; 
The Settlement of Mr. Emerson, his Salary and how paiil: Old Tenor 
Currency -^0 — 56. 



lO CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IV. 

IIOLLIS. 

174G to 1750. The Charter of Hollis; Charter of the new Towns of Dim- 
stable, Merrimack and Monsou; Original Boundaries of those Towns; 
Name of Hollis and its Origin ; The First Town Meeting and First Town 
Officers ; The Second Meeting-House : Petition for a Laud Tax ; Stocks 
and Whipping Post; Pews and Pew Grouuil and to whom soUl : Care of 
the Meeting-House; Singing 'u — ";?. 



CHAPTER V. 

BORDER TROUBLES WITH DUNSTABLE. 

174G to 1773. The One Pine Hill Controversy; First Petition for the Annex- 
ation of One Pine Hill to Hollis ; Second Petition foi' the Annexation of 
One Pine Hill: Contest in the General Court; One Pine Hill Finalh' An- 
nexed to Hollis ; Second Border Controversy with Dunstable ; The 
Nashua Piver Bridge, and Dispute in rcs])ect to the Building and Sup- 
port of it; Compromise and Final Settlement . . . 74 — 84. 



CHAPTER \T. 

HLSTORV OF .MONSON. 

1740 to 1770. First Town Election in Monsou, and First Town Officers; 
Town Officers from 174C to 1770; Petition to the General Court for 
Scouts and Guards ; Petition to be Believed from Taxation ; Unsuccess- 
ful Efforts to Maintain a School, to Support Preaching, Build a Meeting- 
House or Find a Meeting-House place : Bepeal of the Charter and Division 
. of the Town: The Mile Slip, Charters of Baby, Wilton. IMason. Duxbury 
and Milford s.-,— (13 



CHAPTER Vn. 



MILITARY HISTORY. 

174() to I7(;:'.. The Provincial Militia Law: First Militia Company in Hollis 
and its Officers; French and Indian War of 1744; Petitions for Garrisons 
and Scouts: The French and Indian War of 1754; Hollis Officers and 
Soldiers in the War of 1754 !»4— iOl- 



CONTEXTS. ir 

CHAPTER VIII. 

COLONIAL SCIIOOL LAW AND SCHOOLS. 

I74Gtol775. ScliooLs.iu llollis bclbre tlit' Revolution ; School Taxes; School 
S(|Uiulroiis or Districts ; The First School-Houses ; The Hollis Grammar 
School ; Teacliers ol" the Grammar School ; Names of Ilollis Graduates 
of College, and of Ministers and Physicians not Graduates born before 
1775; Letter of Gov. John Wentworth to Rev. Mr. Emerson 102—108. 



CHAPTER TX. 

EARLY COLONIAL LAWS. 

174G to 1775. Town oflicers and their duties: Moderators of the Town 
Meetings; Selectmen; Constables; Field-Drivers; Tithing-Mtn ; Hog- 
Reeves ; Deer-Reeves ; Wolves and Rattlesnakes ; "Voters and tlieir Qual- 
ilications: Houses of Correction; The Stocks and Whipping-Post; 
Profane Cursing and Swearing; Defamation; Insolence to Women; 
Petit Larceny ; The I'oor and their Support ; Warning out of Town ; 
Slavery in New Hampshire before the Revolution ; Mode of Selling 
Negro Slaves 109—117 



CHAPTER X. 

THE NEW HAMI'SIIIUE GENERAL COURT. 

1741 to 1775. Members of the New Hampshire General Court from Hollis 
and Dunstable before 1775. Justices of the Peace; Division of New 
Hampshire into Counties : Organization of Hillsborough County; County 
Otticers from Hollis: Tlie Pine Tree Law, its Unpopularity, and Trouble 
in Enforcing It ; Riot at Weare and Trial of the Rioters ; Gov. John 
Wentworth; His Personal Popularity: Address to, from the people of 
Hollis; The First Trial for Murder in Hillsborough County: Pica of tl.e 
Benetit of Clergy; Poi)Ulati()n of Hollis and other old Dunstable Towns 
in. 1775; The Charter and t-CttUnient of I'lyniouth by Emigrants from 
Hollis 118—127. 

CHAPTER XI. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

1730 to 1754. Rrief Biographical Sketches of a portion of the Early Settlers 
of Hollis from the year 17oU to the French and Indiar. AVar of 1754 ; Full 
Lists of the names of the Tax Payers on the Hollis Tax Lists, Jan. 1, 
1 775, with the Last Tax Assessed by the Authority of the Kii'g 128—108. 



12 , CONTEXTS. 

CHAPTER XII. 

THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTION. 

1774 aud 177.j. Ilollifs Town Meetings; I'atriotie riesoliitious : HoUls Militia 
Companies ; Tiie Alarm List ; Capt. Wright's Company ; Capt. Worces- 
ter's Company; First, Second aud Third County Congresses at Amlierst; 
Delegates to; Hollis Company of Minute Men to Lexington and Cam- 
bridge, April 19, 1775; Officers and Eoll of this Company: Wages Paid 
by the Town 139_148. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

WAR OF THE RKX'OLUTION. 

1775. Hollis Company at the Eattle of Bunker Hill ; Company Eoll. Descrii)- 
tive List ; Hollis Men in Other Companies ; Commission of Capt. ]:)ow : 
The Battle of Bunker Hill ; The March from Cambridge under Col. Pres- 
cott; Other Hollis aud New Hampshire Soldiers in Col. Prcscott's Regi- 
ment; Names of the Hollis Men Killed and Wounded at Bunker Hill; 
Loss of Equipments of the Hollis Men in the Battle; The New Hamp- 
shire Reinforcements in December, 1775; Desertion of the Connecticut 
Troops ; Letter of Gen. Sullivan to the New Hampshire Committee of 
Safe^.y; Capt. Worcester's Company to Cambridge in December: Num- 
ber of Hollis Soldiers the First Year of the War, and their Wages; 
Amount Paid l)y the Town: The Military Coat \'oted as a Bounty: Story 
of a Patriotic lluUis Woman U'.t— ir.2. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

U"AR OF THE REVOLUTION CONTINUED. 

177G. Names of the Hollis Soldiers the Second Year of the War; Volun- 
teers in the Continental Army; In Col. Wingate's Regiment to Ticonder- 
oga; In Col. Long's Regiment; In Col. Baldwin's Regiment to White 
Plains; In Col. Gilman's Regiment; Names in the Return of Capt. Goss; 
The Hollis Tories 1G3— 1G8. 

CHAPTER XV. 

THE THIRD YEAR OF THE WAR. 

1777. Committee of Safety for 1777: The Town's Quota for the Continental 
Army: Names of the Thirty Continental Soldiers for 1777: Patriotic 
Pledges ol Forty-eight Hollis Minute Men ; The Ticonderoga Alarm : 
Company of Capt. Emerson ; Its Marches to Walpole and Cavendish, Vt. ; 
Company of Capt. Goss ; Hollis Soldiers at the Battle of Bennington ; 
Wages of the Men, and Amount Paid by the Town in 1777; Depreciation 
of the Continental Paper Money, and Law to Fix Prices . 109—177. 



CONTENTS. 13 

CHAPTER XVI. 

THE FOURTH AND ITKTH VKARS OF THE WAK. 

1778 aud 1779. l)oiii;is of the Town ML'etiiif:;s ami History of the War cou- 
tinuod; Committees of Safety in 1778 and 1779; Continental Soldiers 
for 1778 and 1779, Names of the men engaj;ed, and Wages and Bounties 
paid them; Volunteers to Khode Island in 177S: Capt. Emerson's 
Mounted Company; Wages; Soldiers' Families; Leonard Whiting's 
War Tax; Volunteers for Khode Island and Portsmoutli in 1779; Capt. 
Emerson's Commission ; Convention to fix Prices; Continued Deprecia- 
tion of Paper Money ; Small Pox in llollis .... 178—187. 



CHAPTER XVn. 



THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH YEARS OF THE WAR. 

1780 and 1781. Votes and Kosolutions of -tlie Town Meetings ; llollis Con- 
tinental Quotas in 1780 and 1781; their Wages and how paid ; Militia 
for West Point and the Northern Frontier in 1780; Names of the men 
and their Wages ; Beef for the .\rmy in 1780 and 1781, and how obtained ; 
The town divided into Classes ; Reduction of the New Hampshire 
Troops aud of the llollis Quota; Rum for tlie Army in 1781 ; New Call 
for Soldiers 1S8 — 19:5. 



CHAPTER XV HI. 

THE LAST YEARS OF THE WAR. 

17^(2 and 1783. New Plan of Government; The New Hampshire Rangers in 
1782; Last Soldier of the llollis Quota; Numl)er and Names of the llollis 
.Soldiers ; Sentiments of the People in respect to the Return of the 
Tories; The last War Tax ; llollis Revolutionary Records and Docu- 
ments; Lists of the Committees of Safety; Names of Commissioned 
Officers, and of Hollis Soldiers lost in the War . . . 194—202. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

EIST OF THE HOLLIS SOLDIERS. 

-Mphabetical List of the names of the Hollis Soldiers in the War of the 
Revolution, showing in what Years they enlisted, and when, and how 
long thev were in the Service 203 — 20G. 



H 



fo\-i' !■;,%• IS. 
CHAI'TIIK XX, 



I!Io(;kai'iii( Ar.. 

BricC I'.iojinipiiicnl Skcldics olii I'lul.ion ollhc llollis I.'m nliiliniiiiry OOlccrs 
iiiul Soldiers 207 — 217. 



ciiAi*'ri':i< XXI. 

WAI! ()V 1812. AND WAH Ol' Mil, |{ I, I! I.l.l .Ht N . 

1H]2 1() IHl.-,. Mollis Soldiers ill llie War oT |.h|l', in llie i;<7;idiir y\i my and 
also for Hie |)( ri-ncc of rort-iiKnitli. 

]^(',] lo jflfiri. Soldiers I'lirnislied Croni llie 'I'ouii in Die Seveial Years of llic 
\Vai- Idi- I he Sii|)))ression oCtJie |{el)r-Hioii ; l{ev,inienls in vvliieh I hey Kll- 
listed, v\illi Hie Dnii- of Kidistinent and 'I'iine of Service and Diseliarae ; 
< 'asiiallies ; Soldiers' Aid Sociely; Soldiers' .Moiiiiini-nl ; ('apt. Natliiui 
IVl. Ames: ],l. .|(,|iii II. Worecsler: M.CIiarles II, l-'.-irlev . 'J\H--2'M. 



cny\i"ri:i< xxii. 

IX ( I.ICSIAS IKAI. HIS I ()\i\ . 

171:1 lo l.sT'.t. 'llie ('oniiiejial ional Cliiireli and Society; I'irsl Meinhers Of 
I lie ( liiircii ; M ein Iters (iT the ( Inircli l)er(»re 1 li<- i;e\ olid ion : Ministers oC 
tlie Society; I{e\ . Mr. I-jner-on : K'ev. .Mr. Sinilli: l.'ev. ,Mr. I'crry ; j{ev_ 
.Mr. Aiken: l!e\ . M r. Oordfni : K'ev . I )r. I )ay : Kcs . .\1 r. Kelsey ; Kev. Mr. 
Seoll : De.ii'ons <d' Hie ( liiir<li, v\iHi Hic |):il.- ol' Hieir A|ipoiiit iiieiil and 
Decease: Vouii^r iMeiis (liiislian Asso<ial ion (iT <tne Hundred V'earH 
A^o: Arlicles of Asso<'ialion : Meinhersliiii : 'I lie Third llollis Mectin;;- 
Ilonse: How and When I'.nill, and IXMrij-lion of It: llollis I'liilaii. 
Hiropic So<iet\: llollis !',( ne\ oleiil ,\ s^ , iciiil ion : Ladies" l.'e-ldili;^ Ulld 
('liarital)le Sociely : Hdllis |i;iplisi Soeiel \ : lis Miiii-^lers. Deacons uiid 
.Vlcdiim-Ilollse 2:i.-i— 2.'.;'.. 



ciiAi''j'i':i< XXIII. 



MIINTf II'Ar. IIIS'l'OI{\'. 

IT;'/) to l.s;.^. Parish Odiccrs of WesI, Diinslahle. 17:',!) lo \7M); Olllcers of 
the DisliicI of Dnnstaltle 171-Mo 174.".; iMdl l/isl.s ,,r Town (Xlicers in 
174(1 and I7I.H: .Moderators ol'lhe .Annual Town Meetings; Town Clerks, 
'J'reasiirers and Seleetinen fioni 1710 to lH7.-( . . • -■"! — ^"(H. 



K)N riCN'IS. 



c'ii.\i'im:k \\i\' 



roll ricAi, iiiMom 



»5 



17IIII Id Ih7'.». I)clc<j;al('.s uiul Ikcprfsciitiilivos to tin' (loiicnil C'lXirt, roiivon- 
tioiis, etc., IVoiii IT.l'.t to IHT'.i; Voles for Stutc J'rcsltlriil IVom 1784 to 
17'.tl.'; \'olcs for (lovcriioi IVoiii I7!>--' to IS7H . . . LT)!*— 263. 



c'ii.\i"'n:K \\\ 



t' S'lA I IS lie Al. IIISIOKN . 

Arcii; Soil; I'l-odiiction.s ; |»'i\ cis, I'oihIs iiml iliooks; ['"orcsl Trci','-, I-iiiiiIkt 
uikI ('oopfriii;^ ; l'o|iiiliilioii ; liirllis mid Dt-atiis; I'o.st ( >l)l('r iiiiil Tost 
Masters; 'I'aveiii Keepers Iroiii l7!tL' to ISiM ; .Iiistiees ol' tlie reiiee ; 

Uilli;il ( IroilinK : I'lililie i;o;i(l> ; llollis ! nsliraiice ('nlil|i;ni\ . L't! I — "J"'-'. 



(•ii.\i»'I'i:k \\\i. 

ICDlCAl l(».\ Al. Ills I'OKS . 

I77."i lo I,s7'.i. 'i'li<- i'lilijic Scliools ; School l-aws ami Sciiool 'Taxes ; School 
Districts; "llollis Sixty Years Aj^o;" Slate's Literary Fund; School 
Coiiuintlees ; School Statistics in IH7:?; 'I'lie llipli Scliool ; Miss Mary S. 
l''arley ; 'I'he Social Library; llollis I,yceiiiii and rnl)lii' Lectures; (Irad- 
iiatos ol" (.'ollei-e I'roin I7."it to l.s7,s 27!?— 28"). 



tii.\i'ri:K \\\ii. 



IIKX.K Ai'in'. 

nionraiiliic.d Skdrhrs of (liadiiates of Harvard :ind Vale L'ulle^cs iVoiii 17r>l 
to Is7(' 2S(i— 301. 



cii.\ri'i:K xwiii. 



Ill( K.U AI'IIV. 



Uiojiiaidiii'id Skelches of (iraduales of Dartinontli. ,MiddlclMir_\ , IJrown, 
Aiiihersl. I'nion. Mary\ille and (In-einille Colleiic- IVoni I7!i."> tf> 

IS7: .".(12— ;u;t. 



l6 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

BIOGRAPHY. 

Biographical Sketolie?; of Miui.■^tel•^. Physicians ami Lawyers uot Graduates 
of College 31+ — 323. 

CHAPTER XXX. 

BIOGRAPHY. 

Physicians who have Settled in and Practised their Profession in HoUis. and 
Miscellaneous Biographical Sketches, viz., of Nathan Thayer, James 
Blood, James Parker. .Jnn., Henry G. Little, Lntlier P. Hubbard. Joseph 
Wheat, Dr. John Jones and Stephen Y. French . . :V2-i — 340. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

LONGEVITY. 

Names of Such Persons as have Deceased since the War of the IJevolutiou at 
the Age of Eighty Years or More, whose Ages with the Date of their 
Decease have been ascertained 341 — 342. 

CHAPTER XXXII. 



MARRIAGE; 



1743 to 1>77. Marriages to be found Eecorded in the Records of the District 
of Dunstable — In the First Three Volumes of the Original HoUis 
Records, and also in the other Hollis Records of Marriages from 1743 to 
1^77 343— 3.;i. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

FAMILY REGISTERS. 

1739 to 1800. Family Registers of Bia-ths in Hollis from 1739 to ISOO, copied 
mainly from the First Three Volumes of the Hollis Records, also pre- 
senting, when ascertained, the Date of the Marriage of the Parents, the 
Time of the Death of the Father, and the Full Maiden or Family Name of 
the Mother • 362. 



HISTORY OF HOLLIS. 



CHAPTER I . 

Charters of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Companies. 
Grants ok New Hampshire to Capt. John Mason. — Char- 
ter OF Dunstable, and history of that town from 1673 
to 1739. 

When North America was first discovered by European navigators, 
the foct of discovery, coupled with some act of possession, was re- 
garded by the common consent of European governments as giving 
a sufficient legal title to the sovereign or government in whose ser- 
vice the navigator was employed to all lands so discovered. By vir- 
tue of such discover}', prior to the settlement of any part of New 
England, the largest part of the continent of North America had 
become, as was claimed, the property' of the sovereigns of Great 
Britain, and rightfully subject to their disposal, with little or no re- 
gard to the possession and interests of the native inhabitants. 

In the exercise of this supposed right, King James I. in the year 
1620, by his letters patent granted to the Council of Plymouth, a 
company instituted " for the planting, ordering and governing New 
England, " " all that part of North America lying between the 40th 
and 48th degrees of north latitude, and of the same breadth through- 
out the main land from sea to sea." 

In the following year, (1621,) the Plymouth company granted to 
Capt. John Mason, a merchant of London, and a member of this 
company, '• all the land from the river Naumkeag round Cape Ann 
to the river Merrimack ; and up each of those rivers to the farthest 
head of them ; then to cross over from the head of the one to the 
head of the other."* 

♦Holmes' Annals, Vol. I, pp. 164, 165. 
(2) 



l8 PROVINCIAL CHARTERS. [162O tO 1639 

111 1629 Capt. Mason procured a new patent from the Plymouth 
company. By this second patent that company conveyed to Mason 
" all the land from the middle of iMerrimack river, near its mouth ; 
thence northward along the coast to the Piscataqua, thence up that 
river to its farthest head ; thence northwestward sixty miles from the 
first entrance of that river ; also up the Merrimack to its farthest head 
and so for\vard up into the land westward sixty miles ; thence to 
cross over to the end of the sixty miles from the mouth of the Pis- 
cataqua river, with all islands within five leagues of the coast."* 

On the 19th of jMarch, 163S, the Plymouth company, by their 
letters patent, granted and sold to Sir Henry Roswxll and his asso- 
ciates -'all that part of New England lying between three miles to 
the northward of Merrimack river and three miles to the south^vard 
of Charles river, and in length within the described breadth from 
the Atlantic Ocean to the South vSea." This grant to Sir Henry 
Roswell and his associates was afterwards in the year 1629 confirmed 
by King Charles I. by letters patent, incorporating these grantees 
of the Plymouth Company by the name of the Governor and Com- 
pany of Massachusetts Bay in New England," with ^^erpetual suc- 
cession, with the right to elect forever out of the freemen of the com- 
pany, a Governor, deputy Governor and eighteen assistants, and to 
make laws not repugnant to the laws of England. f 

It may be readilv seen that these several grants to JNIason and the 
Massachusetts company conflicted, a large tract of the same territory 
being embraced within the limits of each of them. As will appear 
in the secj[uel, this conflict of boundaries many years afterwards be- 
came the occasion of much trouble and tedious litigation between 
the heirs of Mason and New Hampshire on one side and Massachu- 
setts on the other. Holding under this grant of the Plymouth Com- 
pany, confirmed l\y the Royal Charter, the Massachusetts Company, 
afterwards acting through the General Court of the Province, from 
time to time made grants of land to individuals, corporations and 
companies, for Plantations and Townships. Such grants were made 
upon petition for them to the General Court, and were usually coupled 
with such conditions as it was believed would promote the common 
interest of the province and the welfare of the settlers. In this man- 
ner townships were originally granted, and became organized in 
Massachusetts without any more formal act of incorporation, and the 

*IIolines' Annals, Vol. I, p. 199. 
fid, pp. 193, 195. 



1673] CHARTER OF DUXSTABLE. lO 

grantees named in the charter thus invested with the title to all the 
land within the boundaries of the township, subject to such condi- 
tions as might be imposed by the act making the grant. 

For many years prior to 1679, the Provinces of New Hampshire 
and Massachusetts had been under the same government, but in that 
year, upon petition to the King, they were separated, and New 
Hampshire became a '' royal province," the King being represented 
in its government by a Governor and Council of his own appoint- 
ment. After this scparatitju tlic like grants of tf)wn^llips and town 
charters were made in New Hampshire, as in Massachusetts, those 
in Xew Hampshire being granted by the Governor and Council of 
the province in the name of the King, subject to such conditions and 
limitations as were expressed in the charters, and supposed to be 
approved by the King. 

CHARTER OF DUXSTARLE. 

The old township of Dimstable. of which the present town of 
Hollis was a part, was chartered by the General Court of Massachu- 
setts Oct. 16, 1673, O. S., corresponding to Oct. 27, 1673, X. S. 
More than one half of Dunstable, as chartered, was in the territorv in 
dispute between the two provinces, but at the date of its charter, and 
for more than sixty years' afterwards, it was supposed to be wholly 
in Massachusetts, and formed a part of the count}- of Middlesex. 
It included within its chartered boundaries the present town of 
Tyngsborough, the east part of Dunstable, a narrow triangular gore 
on the north side of Pepperell, and a considerable tract in the north- 
east corner of Townsend — all still in Massachusetts. In the state of 
New Hampshire it embraced the towns of LitchHeld and Hudson, 
the south-west part of Londonderr\- and tlie west part of Pelham, on 
the east side of Merrimack river ; and on the west side of that river 
nearly all the present towns of Nashua and Hollis, all of Amherst and 
Merrimack south of the .Souhegan river, and about two-thirds of each 
of the towns of Milford and Brookline. 

The part of Dunstable west of the Merrimack was bounded north 
by the Souhegan river, south by Chelmsford and Groton, as previ- 
ously chartered, and in part by " country land" (land not then in 
any chartered town), and west by a line running due north from its 
southwest corner to Dram Cup Hill, on the Souhegan, now in the 
town of Milford. The extreme length of the township from north 
to south, from the north line of Litchfield to Chelmsford, following 



20 CHARTER OF DUNSTABLE. [1^73 

the course of the Merrimack was about seventeen miles ; its least 
length from the north line of Groton to the nearest point of vSouhe- 
gan river not far from ten miles. Its greatest breadth east and west 
coidd not have been less than sixteen miles, the whole comprising an 
area of near two hundred square miles or 128,000 acres. 

It was still, at that time, a favorite home of the savage, covered 
for the most part with the dense native forests, abounding in game, 
and its ri^-ers with fish, the Merrimack flowing from north to south 
near its centre, the vSouhcgan on its northern border, and the Nashua 
and Nissitissit in the south and southwest. Besides all these beau- 
tiful rivers it was watered by hundreds of crystal brooks and springs, 
and cremmed anions: its hills and vallevs with scores of clear and 
picturesque ponds. 

From out this fair domain, between the years 1655 and 1673, many 
grants had been made l\y the General Court of Massachusetts of 
"Farms," so called, to individuals and corporations, mostly along 
the Merrimack and Souhegan, varying in quantity from three hun- 
dred to fifteen hundred acres, and amounting in all to fourteen thou- 
sand acres or more. The last of these grants, bearing date October 
II, 1673, O. vS., but a few days before the charter, was made to the 
Boston Artillery Company, since known by the well-earned name 
and title of the " Ancient and Honorable." This last grant was of 
one thousand acres, and was laid out on the north side of the Nashua 
river, at its intersection with the Merrimack, extending north along 
the Merrimack about one and a half miles, and on the Nashua to 
Spectacle meadow and brook, about two miles, and including all the 
comj^act part of the city of Nashua north of the river. It appears 
from the history of the Artillery Company that about seventy years 
afterwards the company sold this tract to Col. Joseph Blanchard, a 
gentleman of much note in the early history of Dunstable. The re- 
membrance of this grant has been affectionately perpetuated to our 
times in the name of a small basin of water on the North Common 
in Nashua, near the central part of the tract given to the Artillery 
Company, and still known as "• Artillery Pond." 

PETITION FOR THE CHARTER. 

The petition for this charter was dated Sept. 15, 1673, O. S., and 
was signed by Thomas Brattle, Jonathan Tyng, and twenty-four 
others, including a part of the owners of the "Farms" previously 
granted. The petitioners stated as reasons for granting the charter 
that " the Land described in the Petition Was of little Capacity- as it 



1673] 



CHAKTKK OF DUNSTABLE. 



21 



then was to do tlic country senice" — " that a considerable number 
of persons of sober and orderly conversation, who stood in great 
need of accommodations were ready to make improvement of this 
vacant Land with whom the owners of the ' farms ' previously granted 
were ready to join and Encourage." The petition then concludes as 
follows: "■ Yo"" Petitioners therefore Humbly request the favour of 
this Honored Court that they will please to grant the said Tract of 
Land to vo"" Petitioners and to such as will Joyne witii tiicni in the 
settlement of the Land aforementioned so that those who have already 
improved their Farmcs there and others also Who speedily intend to 
doe tlie like mav be in a wav for the Enjoyment of the Publique or- 
dinances of God ; ribr without which the greatest part of the yearc 
they will be deprived of; the farmes lying far remoat from any 
towns ; and farther that this Llonoured Court will please to grant the 
like Immunities to this Plantation as they in their favors have for- 
merly granted to other new Plantations. So shall your Petitioners 
be ever engaged to prav &c. 



Tiios. Edwakds, 
Tuo. WiiEELEK, Senior. 
Peter Bclkelev. 
John Parkek. 
John Morss, Senior. 
Samuel Comhs. 
James Parker, Junior. 
JosiAH Parker. 
Joseph I'arker. 
Nath. Blood. 
Koh't Parkis. 
John Jolliffe. 
Zafenea Eono. 



Thomas Brattle. 
Jonathan Tvnc;. 
JosEi'i! Wheeler. 
James Parker, Senior. 
Rob't Gibbs. 
John Turner. 
Sampson Sheafe. 
Sa^^iuel Scarlet. 
William Lakin. 
Abraham Parker. 
James Knai'f. 
Robert Proctor. 
Simon Willard." 



The petition was granted, and the charter or act of incorporation, 
as copied from the original manviscript record, is in the words fol- 
lowing: 

"Tlic .Mafifistrates Judpe it Meet to g-rant the Petitioners Request herein; Provided that a 
farnie of Five Hundred Acres of I'pland & Meadow be laved out for the Publick use, and that 
they so proceed in settling ye Plantation as to finish it out witliin three years & procure & niain- 
tayne an able & Orthodox minister amongst them ; the Magistrs have passed this, their brethren 
the Deputies hereto consenting. 

EDWAIU) K.\WSON, Secret. 
16 October 1673. 

The Deputves consent hereto. 

WII.I.IA>r TORREV, Clericls." 

vSuch. in those times, and for manv vears after, were the usual con 
ditions upon which the General Court of Massachusetts granted 
charters for towns. The procuring and maintenance of an '^ able 
a>id ortJiodox" minister was an indispensable condition, and in case 
a Town should be destitute of such lazvful minister for six consecu- 
tive months, it was made tlic dutv of the Court of Sessions, at the 



23 DUNSTABLE. L^*^73 ^^ ^739 

charge of the town, to procure and settle one that would answer the 
Law. Bv ''finishing," or '' finishing out the Plantation within three 
years," was undoubtedly meant, the procuring within that time of 
such number of settlers as would be competent to the support of 
such minister and the building of a meeting-house. That such was 
the meaning of the words '' finish out the Plantation within three 
years" is more than implied in the action of the petitioners, and in 
the conditions upon which at the time, they made grants of '' House 
Lotts," so called, to actual settlers ; each settler being required by his 
contract to " clear, fence, break up, build a house, and Live upon 
his Lot within three years " from the date of the charter under the 
penalty of forfeiture. By the granting of this charter, the Twenty- 
Six Petitioners became the owners of all the ungranted Lands within 
the Boundaries of Old Dunstable, which, if equally shared, would 
have given to each of them not less than four thousand acres. About 
twelve years later, for the consideration of £20, as is said, the title 
of the Proprietors was confirmed by the Naticook & Wamesit In- 
dians — the Naticooks then living about Thornton's Ferry, the Wam- 
esits near Pawtucket Falls. 

GRANTEES AND PROPRIETORS. 

Many of the grantees of the *" Farms" as well as of the petitioners 
for the charter were at the time men of note in the Province. 
Among the former were John Endicott, Governor of Massachusetts, 
and William Brenton, afterwards Governor of Rhode Island. 
Among the latter were William Brattle, whose name is perpetuated 
in Brattle Street, Brattle Street Church, and Brattle's End, Dun- 
stable ; Peter Bulkelev, a fellow of Harvard College and Speaker of 
the Provincial Assembly ; Sampson Sheafe, a member of the Provin- 
cial Council of New Plam^^shire, and others of no less note. 

PERAMBULATION AND SURVEY. 

The Spring next after its incorporation, Dunstable was perambu- 
lated and the boundaries of the town established and marked by 
Jonathan Danforth of Billerica, who had laid ofi' the grant to the 
Boston Artillery Company the fiill previous, the towns of Chelms- 
ford and Groton some years before, and who is spoken of in Mr. 
Farmer's biographical notice of him as one of the most eminent sur- 
veyors of his time. In an elegy written in memory of Mr. Danforth, 
it is said of him : 

" He rode the circuit; chained great towns and farms 
To good behavior; and by well marked stations 
He fixed their bounds for many generations." 



1673 to 1739] DUNSTABLE. 23 

NAMi:, KTC. 

The name Dunstable is said to have been given to the new town 
in compliment to Madam Mary Tyng, wife of Hon. Edward Tyng, 
and mother of Jonathan Tyng, one of the grantees in the charter, 
Madam Tyng having come from a city of the same name in Bed- 
fordshire, in the southerly part of England. This charter of Dunstable 
is older by near sixty years than that of any town in New Hamp- 
shire west of the Merrimack, that of Rumford, now Concord, in- 
corporated in 1733, being among the next oldest. 

COMTACT OF THE GRANTEES. 

Before taking possession or making any division of their ample 
domains, the grantees, following the prudent example of the Pilgrims 
of the Mayflower, entered into a social wrilteu compact regulating 
their future polity in respect to the disposition and settlement of the 
town. In this compact, among other matters, it was agreed that 
each accepted settler, as a personal right should have a " house lott" 
of ten acres, one acre to be added to the ten for each £20 of estate, 
but no " house lott" to exceed thirty acres ; and all after-divisions of 
the common land to be apportioned according to house lots. 

These lots were to be laid out in the same neighborhood and ad- 
joining each other, for convenience of defence in case of hostile at- 
tack. " If any settler should fail to pay his dues or taxes, his lot to 
be seized by the town and held till payment." " To the end that 
they might live in peace and love with each other, every settler was 
to fence his garden, orchard and cornfield with a sufficient fence, 
four rails in height ; and all land not fenced was to be free and com- 
mon to all the cattle of the proprietors." 

HOUSE LOTS LAID OFF AND SETTLEMENT BEGUN. 

These house lots, said to have been about eightv in all, were laid 
out not long afterwards, contiguous to each other, beginning at the 
"Neck," so called, near the mouth of Salmon Brook, and extending 
southerlv along tliat lirook. the Merrimack ri\cr and the main road 
in the direction towards the ancient burial ground near the present 
state line. Near by, and not tar from the site of the old school- 
house in the present Harbor School District, the first fort or garri- 
son house was built, to which the settlers could retire in case of 
■danger. 

It is very evident that settlements had been begun on these house 



24 DUNSTABLE. [^^73 tO 1 739 

lots as early as the spring of 1674, as we find on the town records, 
that on the nth of May of that year, at a meeting of the "Farmers," 
"Proprietors" under the charter, and "township men" or new 
settlers, it was "voted that the first meeting-house should be built 
between Salmon Brook and the house of Lieutenant Wheeler as 
convenient as may be for the accommodation of both." 

Thus was begun, in the wilderness, two hundred years ago, the 
infant settlement at Salmon Brook. For sixty years afterwards, it 
stood there, solitary and alone, no town north of it tliis side of 
Canada ; none east of it, in New Hampshire to the west of Exeter — 
fifty miles ; none to the south-east, south or south-west, nearer than 
Chelmsford, Groton and Lancaster, at the respective distances of 
fourteen, fifteen and twenty-five miles. 

KixG Philip's war. 

The next year, in the summer of 1675, the bloody war begun 
by the crafty and cruel King Philip for the extermination of the 
English, broke upon the New England Colonies. The new towns 
of Lancaster, Groton and Chelmsford were attacked and burnt, their 
inhabitants murdered, carried into captivity or driven from their 
homes. With the exception of the brave Jonathan Tyng, every 
settler at Dunstable fled. Tyng alone refused to leave, and fortify- 
ing his house he resolved to defend it to the last. He petitioned the 
General Court of Massachusetts for a little ''guard of three or four 
men," saying in his petition "that he was living in the uppermost 
house on the Merrimack, lying open to the enemy, but so seated as 
to be, as it were, a watch-house for the neighboring towns." The 
petition was granted, and with this little Spartan band, Tyng stoutly 
defended his rude castle and held the town till the end of the war. 

Jonathan Tyng thus nobly and gallantly earned the honor of being 
the first permanent settler of Dunstable, and of all of that part of 
New Hampshire west of the Merrimack, and of having his 
name perpetuated by a grateful posterity in that of the town of 
Tyngsborough. 

In 167S, peace came again ; the fugitive settlers at Salmon Brook, 
or such of them as had survived the war, were at liberty to return, 
and the same year it is said, the first meeting-house was built. At 
one of their town meetings, about this time, it \vas "voted that the 
number of settlers might be increased but not so as to exceed eighty 
families in all." In 1679 the plantation \vas at last '\fi)iisJicd onf" 
by the "procuring and maintaining" the Rev. Thomas Weld as 



1673101739] DUNSTABLE. 25 

their first •' learned and orthodox minister amongst them." Under 
the ministration of Mr. Weld, the settlement so increased and pros- 
pered that in 1685 it became necessary to build a larger meeting- 
house, '* about the size of the one at Groton," as the town records 
have it. 

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. 

In the ancient records of births, marriages and deaths, we find 
that the first recorded birth was that of William, son of Jonathan 
and Mary Tyng, April 22. 1679. The first marriage that of John 
Sollendine, the Alichael Angelo of the first meeting-house, and the 
architect of the first bridge across Salmon Bnjok, Aug. 2, 1680. 
The first recorded death that of the Hon. Edward Tyng, Dec. 22, 
1 68 1 , aged 8 1 . 

KING William's war. 

After an unquiet peace for about ten years, the beginning of the 
war, known in history as " King William's," was signalized in New 
England by the treacherous and horrible murder of !Major Waldron 
and twenty-two other inhabitants of Dover by the Penacook and 
Eastern Indians, and the carrying oft' a still larger number as cap- 
tives to Canada. The same party of savages had planned an attack 
at the same time upon Dunstable, but its execution was prevented by 
a timely discovery of the plot. Two companies of mounted scouts of 
twenty men each, afterwards reinforced by fifty, were promptlv de- 
tailed to patrol the woods from Lancaster to Dunstable. Hut these 
precautions diil not save the settlement at Salmon Brook from attack 
and massacre. The town records tell in graphic words, said to be 
in the handwriting of Mr. W^eld, their first minister, the sad tale of 
two of these attacks. , 

Anno Domini 1691. 

Benjamin Hassell Senior "1 -it- 1 • u 

Anna IhisscU his wife W ere sla.n hv our 

Benjamin Hassell, their son, l J,'"''/'" tnem.es 
Mary Marks, Daughter of ^^■•'*• ' '" ^''^ E^'^" 

i'atrick Marks J "'"*?• 

Obadiah Perr^- and ) ^'"'^ ^^ '^'-' ha"d of our In- 
Christopher I^errv ?^'-'" Enem.es Sept. 2S, 1691, 

' - J in llie morninu:^. 

There were at this time in the settlement at Salmon Brook, four 
garrison houses, two of them having four soldiers each, one six and 
another seven. Such garrison houses, as descril^ed bv Dr. Belknap, 
were surrounded with walls of timber built up to the eaves, with the 
gates as well as the house doors secured h\ iron b(jlts and bars. So 



26 , DUNSTABLE. [1^73 tO 1 739 

much had the settlement been reduced by this war that in 1696 two- 
thirds of the inhabitants had fled, and in 1699 there were but twenty 
heads of families to contribute to the minister's wood rate. This 
•war lasted ten years. Cotton Mather, who wrote its history, calls 
them '"'■ Decefi?u'H?fi Luctiwsufn'" — the decade of sorrows. 

QLIEEN AXXE's WAR. 

In the year 1703, after a short truce, the war known as Qiie.en 
Anne's, broke upon the colonies, and also lasted ten years. The 
•scholarly Penhallow, who, as a member of the New Hampshire 
Council, was an actor in it, and who wrote the history of the Indian 
wars, from 1703 to 1726, inscribes the title-page of his book with the 
:6ad, classic words : — 

" Nescio tu quibus es, Lector, lecturus ocellis 

Hoc scio, quod siccis, scribere non potui." 
(With what eyes, O reader, you will read this tale, 

I know not, 
This I do know, mine were not dry when writing it.) 

The Eastern and Canadian Indians again took part with the 
French, and in the course of a few weeks more than two hundred 
.settlers along our northern frontier were killed or captured and taken 
to Canada. " Terror itbique /rcvwcr, "says Penhallow — "fear and 
trembling everywhere." 

In this war, the General Court, in retaliation of the example of the 
government of Canada, offered a bounty of JC40 each for Indian 
scalps. Capt. John Tyng, of Dunstable, was the first to avail him- 
self of this grim bounty, and went, in the depth of winter, says the 
historian, to the Indian headquarters and got five, for which he was 
paid £200. Early in the war the garrison house of Robert Parris, in 
the south part of the settlement, was attacked, and himself, wife and 
one daughter killed. 

In 1706, the Weld Garrison, so called, then occupied by twenty 
troopers, was surprised bv the savages, and one-half of the soldiers 
killed. The same party murdered six of the inhabitants of the town. 
The story of this last massacre is thus told in the town records : — 

Nathan Blanchard 1 

Lydia Blanchard his wife . | Dyed July 

Susannah Blanchard his daughter J- 3, 171x1, at 

Mrs. Hannah Blanchard | niglit. 

Goody Cumings wife of Jolin Cumings. J 

Racliel Gahisha, Dved July 3, 170(3. 

At this time, including a lilock-housc built by the government, 
there were seven garrison houses in the settlement, each having one 
or more soldiers, the town being still a " Watch-house''^ for the 
interior settlements. 



1673 to 1739] DUNSTARLE. 27 

lovewell's WAU. 

In 1 713 the Peace of Utrecht put an end to Qiicen Anne's War. 
A treacherous peace followed, till 1723, when the war was renewed. 
Dunstable, still on the extreme frontier, was attacked, two of her cit- 
izens captured and carried to Canada by a party of the enemy. The 
savages were pursued by soldiers from the town, who were am- 
bushed, eight of them slaughtered, and all buried in the same grave. 

The following epitaph in the ancient burial ground, " spelt by the 
unlettered Muse," tells the bloody tale. 

" MEMENTO MORI. 

" Here lies the body of Thomas Lund who departed 

" this life Sept. 24, 1724, in the 42d year of his age. 

" This man, with seven more that lies in this grave, 

" Was all slew in a day by the Indians." 

In the month of November after this slaughter, the " worthy Cap- 
tain Lovewell " and his company of fearless and hardy men volun- 
teered to ''range the woods full wide" and fight the Indians for a 
year. I need not in this place repeat the story of the first, the sec- 
ond, or the last expedition of this band of daring backwoodsmen, 

"What time the noble Lovewell came 

With fifty men from Dunstable 
The cruel Pequot tribe to tame 

With arms and bloodshed terrible, 

all familiar from our childhood as household words. From that day 
to our own, in our sober histories, in works of fiction, in oral tra- 
dition, in our most popular New England ballads, the names of 
*' worthy Captain Lovewell" and Dunstable have been joined to- 
gether, as it were, in holy wedlock, never to be put asunder. Of the 
seventy savages in the desperate conflict at Pequawkett, according to 
Penhallow forty were killed on the field and eighteen mortally 
wounded. Of the thirty-four men of Lovewell's company, in the 
battle fifteen were killed, including all the ofiicers, besides many 
wounded. Well and worthily has a New Hampshire bard, upon 
visiting the battlefield one hundred years afterwards, sung of them, 

"Ah! Where are the soldiers that fought here of yore! 

The sod is upon them, they'll struggle no more, 
The hatchet is fallen — the red man is low. 

But near him reposes the arm of his foe. 
The names of the fallen the traveller leaves 

Cut out with his knife on the bark of the trees. 
But little avail his affectionate arts, 

For the names of the fallen are graved on our hearts. 
Sleep, soldiers of merit! Sleep, gallants of yore, 

The hatchet is fallen, the struggle is o'er. 
While the fir tree is green or the wind rolls a wave. 

The tear drop shall brighten the turf of tlie brave." 



28 DUNSTABLE. [^^73 tO 1 739 

Though the combatants were so few, and this bloody conflict ap- 
jDarently a drawn battle (neither party being in a condition to pur- 
sue the other) yet so far as related to New England it had all the re- 
sults of a decisive and complete victory. It was the last battle of the 
war ; the power of the hoi^tile savages was forever broken, and such 
of them as were left gradually withdrew from their ancient haunts 
and hunting-grovmds in New England to the French settlements in 
Canada. Peace followed the ensuing winter, and from that time to 
the present the little settlement at .Salmon Brook, so persistentlv and 
bravely defended for the preceding fifty years, has never l)een inva- 
ded by a hostile savage. From the breaking out of King William's 
War to the making of this peace was a period of thirtv-seven vears, 
twenty-three of this savage warfare, and but fourteen of treacher- 
ous, uncertain peace. During all these sad vears the settlers in this 
ancient town, feeble and few in numbers, but always trusting in 
God, and literally keeping *" their powder dry," were yet ever firm 
and defiant. Living for the most part in garrisons, felling the forests 
and planting their fields with their arms ready at hand — listening to 
the sermon on Sunday with their loaded muskets by their seats, or 
stacked at the meeting-house door — their bravest men waylaid and 
slaughtered — their wives and children massacred in their houses, or 
hin^ried oft' to a captivity often worse than death — thev maintained 
this out-post of our modern Christian civilization with heroic courage 
to the end. 

When we turn our eyes backward to tlie bloody scenes, to the ter- 
rors and sorrows of the past, and contrast those scenes and those 
sorrows with the peace and blessings of the present, and call to mind 
to what extent this quiet and these blessings are due to the sacrifices 
and sufterings of the early pioneers of Dunstable, what heart not 
palsied, can fail to throb with emotions of gratitude to our common 
Father for so worthy an ancestry. 

It would l)e forgetfulness of a duty we owe alike to ourselves, to 
those who shall come after us when we are gone, to the institutions 
civil and religious they did so much to establish, and to our common 
humanity, should we neglect so far as in us lies to perpetuate the re- 
membrance of their worthy and noble deeds. 



1673 to 1739] DUNSTABLE. 29 

POPULATION'. 

The population of Dunstable at this period, as stated by Mr. Fox, 
was as follows : 

16S0, 30 families, or about I30 inhabitants. 
1701, 35 " " " 100 " 

1711, 13 " " " S6 " 

1730. SO " " " 250 " 

THE EFFECTS OF THE RETURN OF PEACE. 

With the return of peace, both the town of Dunstable and all the 
country round, begun to experience a degree of prosperity never en- 
joyed before, and settlements were soon extended north and west of 
the Nashua, and east of the Merrimack. As we have already seen, 
no town before that time had been chartered north or west of Dun- 
stable, in what is now New Hampshire, for the preceding fifty years. 
But such was the benign influence of peace, that within sixteen 
years after '' Lovewell's Fight" twenty-eight towns, now in New 
Hampshire, had been chartered or granted by the General Court of 
Massachusetts, and more or less settled, extending north on the Mer- 
rimack, to Stevenstown (now Franklin and Salisbury) about sixty 
miles, and on the Connecticut to No 4, now Charlcstown, near 
seventy miles. 

FIRST DISMEMBERMENTS OF DUNSTABLE. 

About this period, or a little before, began the legislative dismem- 
berments and mutilations of the body politic of the town of Dunsta- 
ble — afterwards continued with more or less frequency for near a 
century — a treatment little less unkind and cruel in its way than that 
suflered by the early settlers from the savages. The first of these ex- 
cisions was in the year 1722 when its north-east extremity was cut 
off, to fill up a corner of the Town of Londondeny. The next, in 
1731, when a small slice of it of about eighty acres, was taken from 
near its south-west corner to piece out a side of Townsend. 

In the year 1732, all the remainder of the old town on the east 
side of the Merrimack, extending from the north line of Litchfield 
to Chelmsford, was incorporated into a new town then called Not- 
tingham. 

In the year 1734, the north part of the then new town of Notting- 
ham, and a part of the present town of Merrimack, south of the 
Souhegan, at the junction of that river with the Merrimack, were 
incorporated into a town then and still called Litchfield. 



30 DUNSTABLE. " [.^^73 tO 1 739 

Both of these towns being incorporated by the General Conrt of 
Massachusetts, were required within three years from the date of 
their respective charters to be "finished out" by procuring and "set- 
tling in each of them a learned and orthodox minister of good con- 
versation, and making effectual provision for his comfortable and 
honorable support." 

In 1739 that part of Dunstable lying west of the present east line 
of Hollis and the Nashua river was incorporated as a parish, known 
by the name of the West Parish of Dunstable. This charter of 
West Dunstable, as also that of Nottingham, authorized the assess- 
ment of a tax of two pence per acre upon all lands of non-resident 
owners, within their chartered limits for the space of five vears for 
the building of a meeting house and the support of the ministry. 
The incorporation of West Dunstable was the last legislative act of 
the General Court of Massachusetts affecting that part of the old 
town now in New Hampshire. 



1730 to 1739-] SETTLEMENT OF WEST DUNSTABLE. 3I 



CHAPTER II. 

CHARTER OF THE PARISH OF WEST DUNSTABLE. ITS SETTLEMENT 

AND HISTORY FROM I 73O TO I 739" 

Under the Laws of the Province of Massachusetts, in force at the 
time, the twenty-six petitioners for the charter of Dunstable, "with 
such as might joyn with them in the settlement," became owners in 
fee simple, as tenants in common, of all the ungranted land within 
the boundaries of the township. In the year 1682, shortly after the , 

close of King Philip's war, a meeting of these proprietors was held, \ 

who formed themselves into an association for the purpose of settling 
their several rights — of making divisions of their lands from time to 
time among themselves in the modes and proportions mutually 
agreed upon — and also for the making of sales and setting oft" the 
lands disposed of to purchasers and actual settlers. 

The meetings of these original proprietors, and of those who suc- 
ceeded to their estates, afterwards continued to be held (sometimes at 
intervals of many years,) for more than a century-, the last of them as 
late as 1816. The doings of this association, including the partitions 
and sales of land made by the proprietors were carefully recorded in 
books kept by them for the purpose, now worn and mutilated, but 
still to be found in the office of the city clerk of Nashua. 

Before the year 1729, most of the land of these proprietors lying in 
the present towns of Nashua, Hudson and Litchfield, N. H., and 
Tyngsborough and Dunstable, Mass., had changed ownership, and 
much of it was then in the occupation of actual settlers. Previous to 
that year, no record of any sale or grant to any one of the early 
settlers of Hollis of land in that town is to be found in the books 
kept by these proprietors. But in the month of Januarv, 1729-30, 
O. S., as is shown by these records, the modest quantity of 37 1-2 
acres was set oft' by the proprietors to Peter Powers, in the right of 
John Usher. The survey of it was made by Col. Joseph Blanchard, 



32 SETTLEMENT OF DUXSTABLE. [l730tO 1 739 

an honored citizen of Dunstable, and a noted surveyor of the time, 
and was set oft' to Powers by Henry Farwell, Joseph French ami 
WilHam Lund as a committee acting for the association. This tract 
is described in the record as lying in that part of Dunstable called 
" Nissitissit," which was the Indian name of Hollis. It was laid out 
in an oblong i30 rods cast and west, and 50 rods from north to south. 
Some years afterwards, as is shown by these records of the proprie- 
tors there were set oft' to Powers as purchaser and grantee, in a simi- 
lar way several other tracts of land in Hollis, amounting in all to 
nearly 1400 acres, among which was one tract of 1000 acres lying 
between Long and Pennichuck ponds, but he is the only person 
among the early settlers of Hollis whose name is found as a grantee 
upon the books of that association. 

Mr. Powers, afterward known as " Capt. Powers," and as a lead- 
ing and prominent citizen of Hollis, was born at Littleton, Mass., in 
1707. In 173S he was married to Anna Keyes of Chelmsford, and 
the same year removed with his wife to that part of Dunstable now 
known as Nashua. During the summer and fall of 1730, he made 
the first clearing and built the first dwelling house in Hollis. In the 
month of January, 1731, with his wife and two infant children he 
made his way through the then dense, unbroken forest to his new 
home and thus became the first permanent settler of the town. The 
site of this humble dwelling, no doubt built of logs, was about one- 
half mile N. W. of the present Hollis meeting-house, but a short 
distance from the house formerly owned by Thomas Cumings, after- 
wards by his son-in-law, Mr. John S. Heywood, now deceased, where 
vestiges of the old cellar, as is said, may be still seen. For nearly 
two years this family had no neighbor within about ten miles of 
them. On the 9th of March, 1732, their eldest daughter, Anna 
Powers, was born, who was the first child of English descent born 
in the town. 

In the summer of 1732, Eleazer Flagg from Concord, Mass., 
settled in the S. W. part of the town, on or near the place after- 
wards owned by his grandson, Capt. Reuben Flagg, and now by 
Timothy E. Flagg, Esq., about two miles from Mr. Powers. The 
house of Mr. Flagg is said to have been fortified against the attacks 
of the Indians, and was used as a garrison house. Mr. F. was the 
second settler. The third fiimily is said to have been that of Thomas 
Dinsmore from Bedford, Mass., who settled on the farm now- 
owned by John Coburn, Esq., about one and a half miles south of the 
meeting-house, on the road from Hollis to Pepperell. In the year 
1736 the number of settlers is said to have increased to nine fiimilies. 



1730 to 1739.] SKTTI.KMKXT OF WKST Dl'NSTABLE. 33 

The whole of the township of Dunstable, as we have already 
stated, from the date of the charter, till the new province line was 
settled in the sprinjjj of 1741, was believed to ])e in the county of 
Alidillesex and a part of it. The office of the Register of Deeds for 
that coiuitv was and still is at Cainbridt^e, where, bv the province 
law of the time, the deeds of all real estate within the countv wcreto 
be recoi'ded. But no records of deeds of land in llollis, to persons 
known to have been early inhabitants of the town, are to be found in 
that office of a date prior to 1731. 

Subsequent however to 1731 and l^efore the spring of 1741 it is 
shown by these records that between those dates a very considerable 
number of deeds of land now in llollis were made to the earlv set- 
tlers of the town. iSIany of these deeds, in addition to their date, a 
description of the land sold, and the name of the grantee, give also 
his occupation, and place of former residence. Among these deeds 
of land in Hollis, made before i74i« '^I'c to be found the following 
names of the early settlers of the town as grantees, viz.. Thomas 
Dinsmore, weaver, David Nevins. carpenter, and widow Margaret 
Nevins. all of Bedford, Mass. : William Xevins, of Xewton. Mass., 
husbandman : Jonathan Danforth and Joseph Farley, of J?illerica ; 
Eleazar Flagg and Jonathan Melvin, of Concord ; Enoch Hunt and 
James McDonald, of Groton ; Stephen Harris, of Littleton, and 
Samuel Cumings, of Groton. 

Dunstable, as originally chartered, as we have seen, ^vas bounded 
on the south, in part, by the north line of Groton. As chartered in 
1655. Groton lay on each side of the Nashua River, its north- 
easterly corner being about two miles east of that river, at a place, 
then and still known as Buck ]Meadovv, now in the town of Nashua, 
about one half mile from the south line of tliattown. The original 
north-west corner of Groton was in the line between the towns of 
Pepperell and Townscnd, Mass., about one mile south of the present 
south line of New Hampshire. This corner is still marked bv a 
stone monument now standing on the farm of Addison Wood. This 
old north line of Groton crossed the Nashua river, and the present 
state line at a point very near the Hollis Depot on the Worcester & 
Nashua Railroad. 

In the simimcr and fall of 173S, a few of the settlers then li\ ing 

hi the north part of Groton, and most of those residing in the west 

part of Dunstable, became desirous of being organized into a new 

township, and together with a considerable nimiber of non-resident 

(3) 



34 SETTI.EMKN'i' OK WEST DUNSTABLK. [ I 73O tO 1/39. 

proprietors, these settlers united in a petition tt) the JMassaelnisctts 
General Court for a township charter. The reasons for this appli- 
cation for a township charter are very clearly and pertinently set 
forth in the following petitions, the originals of which, with the 
doings of the General Coint in respect to them, have been preserved 
in the office of the vSecretary of State at Boston. 

PETITION' OF THE INHABITANTS OF DL'NSTAULl-: AND (iROTON FOR 
A TOWN CHARTER. 

•'To his E\eellenc\' jon'' Belcher. Escp, Captain (General and 
Governor In chief, <S:c. ; The Hon'''*' the Council and House of 
j^pptives jj-j Q,^.neral Court Assembled, at Boston. Xo\ . the 29th. 

1738- 

'" The Petition of the subscribers. Inhabitants and Proprietors of 

the Towns of Dunstable and Groton. Humbly vSheweth. 

" That your Petitioners are situatetl in the westerh' side of Dun- 
stable To\\'nship, and tlie northerlv side of Groton Township — 
those in the Township of Dunstable, in general, theii' Houses are 
nine or ten miles from Dunstable fleeting House, snd those in the 
Township of Groton. none but what lives at least on or near six 
miles from Groton Meeting House — b\' wliich means xoiu" Petition- 
ers are tlepri^■ed of the benefit of preaching the greater part of the 
year, nor is it possible at an\- season of the \ear f )r their families in 
general to get to meeting: under which Disadx antages \()iu- Peti- 
tioners ha\ e this se\'eral ^ears Lal)ored. excepting the Winter Sea- 
son for the two AVinters past, in which thev have at their f)\vn cost 
and charges hired Preaching amongst themselves, which Disadvan- 
tages has ver\- much pre\entetl Peoples settling Land there. 

•• That there is a Tract of good Land well situated for a Town- 
ship of the Contents of about six miles and a half scjuare. bounded 
thus, beginning at Dimstable Line by Nasha\\ay Ri\ er, so running 
by the Westcrlv side of said River. Southerlv one mile in Gro- 
ton Land ; then rimning Westerh . a parallel Line with (jroton 
North Line till it comes to Townsend Line ; and then turning and 
running North to Groton North-west Corner, and from (iroton 
North-west Corner b\ Townsend Line and In the Line of Groton 
New Grant till it comes to be five miles and a half to the North 
ward of Groton North Line ; from thence due East seven miles : 
from thence South to Nashua River, ami so bv Nashua River, 
South-westerly to (iroton Line, the first mentioned bound. \\h 



ich 



'73'VJ 



i"ii{sr ri.iiiioN i(ii: 



11 1\\ N-i II \i; I Ki;,. 



tlcscribcd Lamls can 1>\ no means be prcjndicial to the I'owii of 
Dunstable or Gnjton. (it not coming witliin six miles or tliereabonts 
of either of their Meetiny' Houses at the nearest place) to be taken 
offtVom them and elected into a separate Townshi]). 

■• That thers is alreaiK settleil in the bonn<ls of the afore described 
Tract, near Fortv Families, and mam more read\ to come on were 
it not tor the difficulties and hardships aforesaid of getting; to Meet- 
ing. These with manv other Disailvantages we find very trouble- 
some to us. our Li\ ing so remote from the Towns we resj^cctiveh' 
belong to. 

•• Wheretbrc \'our Petitioners most luimbK pra\ that xour ]']\- 
cellenc\ and Honors would take the ]:iremises into \'our consideratiun 
and make an .^Vct for the Greeting the aforesaid Lands into a sepa- 
rate and distinct Towiiship. \\ ith the Pow ers. Privileges and Im- 
munities of a distinct and seperate Township under such restrictions 
and Limitations, as you in \<)ur great Wisdom shall see meet. 

•■ And whereas it will be a great benefit and advantage to the non- 
resident proprietors owing Lands there, bv increasing the value of 
their Lands or rendering Easy settling the same, your Pet " alsoprav 
that they may be at their proportionable part according to their re- 
spective interest in Lands therefor the building a meetinghouse and 
settling a minister and so much towards Constant Preaching, as in 
your Wisdom shall be tliought [)roper. 



SETTLKKS OX IIIi: AIOHKSAIO I. .WHS. 



" Obadiaii Pakkek 
JosiAii Blood 
Jekeaiimael Clminos 
Kben'k Pearce 
William Colhikx 
Stephen Harris 
Thomas Dinsmorf 



Peter Powers 
Ahraiiam Taylor. Jiin 
FJenj. I-"arlev 
Menry Barton- 
Peter Wheeler 
Kohert Colhlrn 
David Xevins 



Philip Woolerkii 
Nath'l Blood 
William Adams 
Joseph Taylor 
Moses Proctor 
William Shattl-ck 
Tuos. Xevins 



\f)X-UESIDEXT PKOPPvIKTORS. 



Samvel Browm. 
W. Browne 
Joseph Blanxhard 
John Kowle, Jun 
Xath'l Saltonstali. 



Joseph Eaton 
Joseph Lemmon 
Jeremiah Baldwin 
Sam'l Baldwin- 
Daniel Remant 



John Malvin 
JoNA. Malvin 
James Cimint.s 
Isaac Karwell 
Ehen'r Proctor. 



()|!l)i:i! Ol" I'lll-: (WCNICKAL COIKT. 

••In the House of Representatives Dec' 12. IJV^- 
Read and ordered that the Peiitioners seave the 'Tow ns of Groton 
and Dunstable with Coppvs of tliis Petition. 



36 SECOM) PE'J'ITIOX FOR A CIIAKTER. [^739- 

"111 Council Jaiuiar\ 4lh 1738-9. 

Read and a_L;ain ordered that the further coiusitleiation of this Pe- 
tition be referred to the hrst Tuesday of the next May session, and 
that James INIinot and John Hobson Esq''\ with such as the Hon- 
orable Board shall joine be a Committee at the charge of the Peti- 
tioners to repair to the Lands petitioned to be Erected into a Town- 
ship, first giving seasonable notice as well to the Petitioners as to the 
Inhabitants ami non-resident Proprietors of Lands ^\•ithin the said 
To\\ns of Dunstable and (irolon of the time of their going by caus- 
ing the same to be published in the Ijostou ( iazette : That they care- 
fully view the s.d Lands, as ^\■ell as the other parts of the s.d I'owns 
so far as may be tlesired by the Part\s or thought proper; That the 
Petitioners, and all others concerned Ite full\ lieard in their IMeas and 
allegations for as well as against the Pra\er of the Petition ; and that 
ii]>on mature consideration on the whole the committee then report 
what in their opinion may be proper for the Court t(_) do in answer 
thereto. Sent up for concurrence. 

J. C^uixcY. Speaker. 
In Council jan-' cj"' 1738-9. 

Read and concurred, aiul Thomas Berry Esq'' 
is joined in the ail'air. 

Simon FitosT Dep'-' vSec" . 

Consented to. J. Beeciier." 

A very large maiorit\' of the settlers whose names ap])ear on the 
abo\e Petition liyed in the Avest part of Dunstable. Man\- of the 
settlers resi^Iing at the time in the north part of (jioton were not 
satislied with this Petition, but wanted a much larger part of the 
new township to be taken from (irotou than \\ as contemplated li\' 
the signers of this first Petition. \\'ith this purpose in ^•iew these 
settlers in Groton, with such of the residents of the west part of 
Dunstable as were willing to join with them, presented a second 
Petition to the General Court for a tow nship to be formed from the 
two towns. This second Petition liearing date Dec. 12, 1739, was as 
toUows : 

To his Excellency Jonathan Belchei". Escj.. Captain General and 
Governor-in-Chief, ccc. iKic. 

"The Petition of Richard Warner and otliers, Inhabitants of the Tt.wns of (ircton and 
Dunstable, most humbly sheweth : 

'• Tliat yonr Petitioners dwell verv far from the place of Pnblic Worship in either of said 
'rowns — many of them cijjlit miles distant; and some more, and none less than diuv miles; 
whereof your Petitioners are put to great Diflficulties in Travelling on the Lord's Day with ou 



1739-] 



KKMONSTKAXCK AGAINST THE SIXONI) PKTrriO.N. 37 



Kiiniilics. Vour Pi-titioncrs IhcrefDrc pray your Kxcelk-iicy and Ilnnnrs to take llicir tircuin 
stances into your wise and compassionate consideration, and that a part of tlie Town of Gro- 
ton, — I'cLrinning at tlie I^ine between Groton and Dvinstable, where it crosses Lancaster (Nash- 
ua) Uiver, and so up the said River until it comes to a place called and knfiwii hy tlic name of 
Joseph Blood's Ford Way cui said River — thence a West I'oint till it comes to Townscnd Line, 
vVc, with such a part anil so much of the Town of Dunstahle, as this Honorable Cf)url in their 
ji;^reat Wisdom shall think proper, with the Iidiahitants Ihereon, may be parceled into a separate 
and distinct Township, that so they may attend the Public worshij) of (jod with more Ease than 
at present they can by reason of the great distance they live from the places thereof as aforesaid. 
And your Petitioners as in Duty bound Shall Ever Pray, &c. 

INHAIUTANTS OF GUOTOX. 

Kkiiakd Wakner, Euenezkr Piekce, William Blood, 

Benjamin Swallow, Samuel Fisk, Jekemiaii Lawrence, 

William Allen, John Greene, Stephen Eames. 

Isaac Williams, Josiah Tcckek, 

EuENEZER Cmlson, Zechariaii Lawkence, Jcn., 

INHABITANTS OF DUNSTABLE, 

Enoch Hint, Gideon Honev, Samuel Farlev, 

Eleazek Fi.Ar.G, Josiah Blood, William Adams, 

Samuel Ccminos. Samuel Parker, Philii' Woolerich, 
William Blanciiard, 

Shortly after tlic presentation of this second Petition most of the 
settlers in Diinstal>le united in a Remonstrance a<;ainst any part of 
Dunstable beinji^ set to Groton, and appointed Abraham Taylor, Jun., 
and Peter Powers to show forth their ''earnest desire that a Town- 
sliip be made entirely of Dunstable Land." 

This Remonstrance was tlated at Dunstable. Dec. 21. 1739. and 
was as follows : 

" We the Sub'rs Inhrdi'ts of ye Town of Dunstable, and resident in lliat part of it called Xis- 
sitisilt. Do hereby Authcirize and fully Empower Abraham Taylor, Jiui., and Peter Powers to 
represent to the General Court our unwillingness that any part of Dunstahle should be sett to 
(Jroton to make a Township or Parish and to shew forth our Earnest Desire that a Township be 
made entirely out of Dunstable Land, Extendino; Six Miles North from Groton Line which 
will bring' them on the Line on ye Brake of Land and just include the present settlement; or 
otherwise as ye IIonoral>le Committee Reported, and Agreeable to the teilour thereof, as the 
Honorable Court shall see meet, and as in Duty bound, &c. 

'I'iiomas Dinsmore, James Whitinc, Peter Wheeler, 

Jerahmael CuMiNGs, James McDaniels, David Nevi.vs, 

Joseph Whitcomh, Randall McDaniels, Thomas Nevins, 

Jonathan Mklvin, Joseph McDaniels, Nathaniel Blood, 

William Adams, W\lliam Coliiurn, William Siiattuck, 

\yiLLiAM Wilson, Robert Coliiurn, Joshua Wright, 

Moses Proctor, Stephen Harris, Henry Barton." 

in:Pt)RT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BV THE GENERAL COURT. 

" The committee appointed on the petition of the inhabitants and proprietors situated on the 
westerly side of Dunstable and northerly side of Groton, after notifying all parties, having 
repaired to the lands petitioned to be erected into a township and carefidly viewed the same, 
find a very good tract of land in Dunstable, west of Nashaway river, between said river and 
Souhegan river, extending from Groton New Grant and Townsend line six miles east lying in 



3^ WEST DUNSTABLE CHAHTEU. [l739- 

a very coiiiiniiiliuu> loiin lor a townsliip, and (in said laiuU tliurc is now al)iiut twenty families 
and many more ^rltliny. 'I'hat nonu of tlu- inhabitants live nearer to a meetmg-house than 
seven miles, and if lhe\ l;(i t.) tlieir town ha\e to pass over a ferry the greater part of the year. 

We also find in ( .rotnn a snffuient quantity of land aceonimodable for settlement, and a 
considerable number of Inhabitants thereon, that in some short time, when they are well agreed, 
maybe erected into a Precinct oi- Parisli. and that it will be very inconvenient to erect a township 
in the form prayed loi-. * '" 

The committee are of o|iinion that the Petitioners in Dnnstalile are under such circnmustances 
its necessitates them to ask relief which will be fully obtained by their being made a 
township. ■"'* 

The committee are further of the oijinion that it will be greatly for the good and interest of the 
township that the non-resident proprietors have liberty of voting with the inhabitants as to the 
Building and Placing a meeting-house and that the lands be ecpially taxed, and that lor the sup- 
port of the Gospel ministry among them the lands of the non-resident Proprietors be taxed at 
two pence per acre for the space of tive years. 

All which is humblv submitted in behalf of the committee. 

TnoM.\s BhKHV." 

ACTION OJ' THE GENERAL COI:kT UPON THE UEPOUT OE THE 

COMMITTEE. 

"In Council Dec. 27, 1730. 

Read and ordered thai this report lie so far accepted lliat the lands mentioned and described 
therein with the inhabitants there be erected into a separate and distinct Precinct and the said 
inhabitants are herebv \ested with all such powers and privileges as any other Precinct in this 
Province have oi- by law ought to have or enjoy. And they are also em])oweied to assess and 
lay a tax of two pence per acre per annum for the space of five years on all the uniniind\ed 
lands belonging to the non-resident proprietors to be applieil to the su]>port of the ministry 
according to the said Report. 

Sent down for concurrence. 

Simon I-'kdst. Dep'ty Sec'ty. 

In the House of Reiiresentatives, Dec. zS, 17J0 
Read and concmred. J Qt'i.Nc v. Speaker. 

Consenteii to. ]. Helciiek. 

Such ;it that tla\' was the motlc of procectlin^'. and such tlie coikH- 
tions under which townships and precincts or parislies were char- 
tered b\' tile (ieiieral Court of Ma.ssachusetts. .\ parish was an 
ecclesiastical tli\ ision of a township. X'ested with the powei% (liv the 
taxation of its iidiabitants) and charg'ed with the duty of building a 
meeting-house, and niaintaining a "learned and orthodox minister." 
By the foregoing act of the General Coinl. that part of the old town 
of Dunstable, described in the report of the committee. iK^came a 
parish, known for some vears after\vards as Jl'rs/ Dunstable. For 
all municipal purposes, other than ecclesiastical, it still remained a 
part of the old town. The new parish was bounded on the north by 
the vSouhegtm ri\er, on the .South by Groton, and west b\' the w-est 
line of the old town. On the east it was boundetl in part bv the 
Nashua ri\er. and in part by a north and south line extending from 
that river to the Souhegan somewhat farther to the east than the 
present east line of Ilollis, and in the records of the proceedings 



^739*] SKTTI.KItS IN W KSI DINSTAIUJ; IN I 739. 39 

had some years afterwards, before the Governor and Council of 
New Hampshire for a chaiii^e of the eastern houndar\ of Ilc^llis. 
the parish of West Dunstable is said to ha\e contained an area f)f 
70,000 acres. 

At the date of the charter the rude, primiti\c dwellinj^s of the 
settlers who hail petitioned for it. with tlieir stump-covered embrvo 
farms, were widely and sparsely scattered o\ er a larj^e part of the 
new parish. Robert and William Colbura. David, Thomas and 
\Villiam Xevins. Stephen Harris and Philip Woolerich liad located 
on the south side ot tlie extinct town of ]\b:)ns()n. now the north part 
of Hollis ; Samuel Farley, fames. Joseph and Randall McDaniels, 
Melvin and Whitcomb. in the easterlv part of Brookline. formerly 
the west part of Hollis. The house of Abraham Ta\!or was about 
60 rods north of the present meetinj^-house in Hollis. on land now 
owned bv Henrv Blood ; that of Samuel Cumin>i^s about 30 rods 
west of the meeting-house on the place now owned by Levi Abbot; 
that of Benjamin Farley, the inn-keeper, on the road leading to the 
south of the meeting-house, being a part of the same house now 
owned b\ Taylor G. Worcester; Jerahmael Cumings ^lived on the 
same road, with Farlev. about 1-2 mile farther south; Josiah l^lood, 
also on the same road, about 3-4 of a mile from Cumings, now 
known as the Fox place ; Joshua Wright about 1-2 mile east of 
Blood on the farm now owned by the heirs of his grandson. Miles J. 
Wright: William Blanchard in the east part of the t<nvn. near 
F'lint's hill : William Shattuck still farther east, near the old east 
school-house. 

The farm of Peter \\" heeler was in the north-^vest part of the town, 
about westerlv frcjm Long pond; Moses Proctor settled in the west 
part, on Proctor hill. Henry Barton in the westerly part, on land 
n(»w owned bv John C. Jewett. The liouse of William .Vdanis is 
said to have lieen upon the site of the present south-west school- 
house, about 2 1-2 miles from the meeting-house. "^Samuel Parker 
lived in the same neighborhod on the farm now owned by Daniel M. 
Smith ; James Whiting on the road to Brookline, near Whitting's 
hill: Nathaniel 151ood in the same part of the town on the present 
tarm of Franklin Colburn, and Enoch Hunt in the extreme south 
part, next to Pepperell. on the farm now owned by Luke Blood. 
Thus it may be seen that the settlers in the extreme north part of the 
settlement were from six to seven miles distant from those in the 
south part : and those living at the extreme east and west part were 
even more remote trom each other. 



40 PARISH OF WEST DUNSTABLE. [l739 tO 1 746. 



CHAPTER III. 

1739 TO 1746. THE PARISH OF WEST DUNSTABLE AXD DISTRICT OF 

DUNSTABLE. FIRST PARISH MEETING, AND FIRST MEETING 

HOUSE. THE N^)N-RESIDENT TAX. SETTLEMENT OF THE 

FIRST MINISTER. 

The report of the committee appointed to view the hintl.s in the 
north part of Groton and west part of Dunstable was carefully 
preserved by the grantees of the charter of the parish of AVest 
Dunstable, and is now to be found recorded at full length on the first 
pages of the first volume of the Hollis town records. 

These origiiial records, in what I have to say of the early history 
of Hollis, will be my principal guide. Where I can consistently do 
so, I shall press them into my service and let them speak for me in 
their own simple and homely dialect. We may occasionally observe 
in the manuscript, wide, and sometimes grotesque departures from 
the more modern orthograph}- of Walker, Webster and Worcester, 
and also from the grammar and syntax of Lowth and Murray. Yet 
in these respects, thev are less subject to unfavorable criticism than 
many of our to^vn records of a much more modern date. The style 
of them is terse, plain, simple and direct, and the words well chosen 
to express the ideas and matters to be recorded, and they contain the 
municipal autobiography of our ancestors, commencing four genera- 
tions ago, written down from year to year, and sometimes from 
month to month, bv persons appointed for the purpose, while what 
they had ilone. or \vhat they at the time proposed to do, was still 
fresh in the minds of all. 

BOUNDARIES AND AREA OF THE PARISH AND THE NON-RESIDENT 

TAX. 

The west parish of the old town of Dunstal)le, as we ha\ e seen. 
extended north and south, from the Souhegan river to the south line 
of the old town, a distance from 9 to 12 miles, and was not far from 
10 niilesin width, and was said to have contained an area ot about 



1739*01746.] PAUISll OF WHST DUNSTABLE. 4I 

70.000 acres. iK'iiiLC more llum three times as lari^a- as llollis now is. 
It included nearly all of the present town of IloUis, that part of 
Amherst s(nith of the Souhegan. the most of Milford and BrooUline. 
parts of the towns of Nashua and Menimack. in the state of New 
Hampshire, and a small part of Pepperell in Massachusetts. The 
inhal)itants of the parish, as we have seen by their charter, had 
authority to assess zd. per acre on all the unimproved land of non- 
residents for the term of Hvc years ft)r the support of the ministry. 
At that time there were about 25 resident families. If each of these 
families owned, on an axcrage. 800 acres (an estimate quite larg^e 
eiK)uo;h), the resident settlers would have had 20,000 acres, leavin;^ 
upon these estimates 50.000 to the non-residents. ^V tax ot 2d. the 
acre on this last quantity would have yielded an annual fund of 
£416 13s., or about $1380 in the currency of the present time, calling 
the poiuul $3.33. We shall soon see what importance the first set- 
tlers of llollis attached to this right to compel non-residents to pay 
for the preaching and meeting-houses of the resident settlers. 

TIIK FIRST PARISH MEETING AND ITS DOINGS, AND THE FIRST 

MEETING-HOUSE. 

The Hrst parish-meeting, under the parish-charter, was held at 
the inn of Lieut. Benjamin Farlev. Jan. 22. 1739-40, O. S. Mr. 
Farle\"s inn was the place where the parish-meetings were com- 
monly held till the first meeting-house w'as built, and is said to have 
been upon the farm now owned bv Taylor G. Worcester, a short 
distance south of the present meeting-house. The warrant for this 
meeting, like all similar warrants, was entitled, in its margin, 
•• Middlesex SS.." meaning h\ these words, count}- of Middlesex, 
^lassachusetts. It was under the hand and seal of Joseph 
Blanchard, Esq., of Dunstable, at that time one of "' his majesty's' 
justices of the peace of that countv. and was addressed to Abraham 
Ta}lor, as constable, to warn the meeting, who had been active in 
obtaining the charter, and who was annually elected parish-clerk till 
his death, about four years after. 

At this first meeting Mr. Taylor was elected moderator and clerk ; 
Mr. Taylor, Peter Powers and Benjamin Farlev, assessors; Stephen 
Harris, treasurer; Thomas Dinsmore. collector of the non-resident 
money : and Peter Powers and Benjamin Farle\- a committee to 
procure preaching till the first of April following. .:\lso it was 
••voted that Abraham Taylor, Peter Powers and Thomas Dinsmore 
be a committee to joyn with such Persons as the old Parish shall 
appoint for to raise Bounds between cacli Parish.'' At this meeting 



42 



PARISH OF WEST DUNSTABLE. [^739 to 1 746. 



also the following vote was passed in respect to a meeting-house ; 
" Voted to l)iiild a House for the Pulilic Worship of God: That 
said House be Erected at or near Thomas Dinsmore's House Lot of 
Land. I'hat the House he 22 feet one \\'ay and 20 the other — 9 foot 
stutl — Avell-l)oarded and shingled — One Fluor — One Door — 3 
windows and as many JSeats as may he thought conyenient — the 
House to he Erected l)y the last of April next." 

The house lot of Thomas Dinsmorc. as was said, was upon the farm 
now owned In" John Cohurn, Esq. But no meeting-house was built 
upon or near that site, the vote to that eflect having lieen reconsid- 
ered at a meeting in the following IVLnxli. After foiu" or five other 
sites had been proposed at various meetings and rejected, it was at 
last, at a meeting held Nov. 5, 1740: "•Voted that the Meeting- 
House should be Erected on Abraham Taylor's Land, about Sixty 
Rods vSoutherly trom said Taylor's Dwelling-House, on the highest 
Knoll of Land thereabouts, and that the Burying Place for the Par- 
ish l)e ajoining the Place now appointed for y^ JMeeting-House." 

This is the same pleasant and hallowed spot on which, a few 
years later, the second meeting-house was built, the same ^yhere the 
third, still standing, was erected more than sixty years after, the site 
for it and the bin'ial-ground having been gi\en by Mr. Tayloi". who 
dietl in the spring of 1743, and was the first adult person buried in 
it. It appears that the new edifice was not wholly completed for a 
year or more after its location was fixed, as we find that it was voted 
at a parish-meeting, Oct. 23. 1741. "To have one (jlace A\'inder in 
the ]Meeting-House and to have it under-Pind as soon as possable." 



THE IHRST PARISH TAX, WITH THE XAME:S OF THE TAX-PAVERS. 

In the month of November. 174O' '^v vote of a parish meeting, 
the first tax was assessed upon the inhabitants " for defra\ing the 
necessary charges of the Parish," amounting to £16. 2s. 2d. This 
tax list contains the names of 29 persons, viz. : 

y^Ac iiAKiAii Lawkence, Jr. Josiah Blood 
Peter Powers 
Hen'jamin Farley 
Jeraiimael Cumings 
Samuel Farley 
David Nevins 
William Xevixs 
Widow Xevin.s 
"William Shattuck 
Daniel Kendall 

nearly all of them faniily names, familiar to the people of HoUis 
from that time to this. 



Enoch Hunt 
Eleazer Flagg 
Samuel Cuminc;.s 
William Blanciiakd 
Abraham Taylor 
Stephen Harris 
William Colbl;rn 
Robert Colburn 
Peter Wheeler 



N^athaniel Blood 
Philip M'oolerich 
Moses Proctor 
John Butterfield 
Elnathan Blood 
Henry Barton 
Thomas I>ins:\ioke 
Amos Philips 
Gideon Bemoney, 



1739 l^** '74'5-] I'AKIMI ol- WKST I)lNSTAni.I£. 43 

r>\ a pr()\incc law . then in force, all male ix-rsons of the aj^c ol 
cifjihtceii vcars aiul over, w ith tiic exception of the u^ovcnior, settled 
ministers, and a few others, were subject to a poll-tax. The above 
tax-list mav be presumed to contain the names ot' all male persons 
above that aj^e at tiiat time inhabitants of the parish. Six of the list 
arc chari^cd with a poll-tax only ; the remaining twenty-three, in- 
cludinii^ the wido\v Xevins. with 1)oth a poll and property-tax. Of 
tile abo\e tax of about t'i6. very near t'13. or more than three- 
fourths of it. were assessed on twenty-eight persons as a poll-tax. 
and less than €3 upon real and personal estate. The sum assessed 
upon each poll was 9s. 2d., while the highest property-tax was only 
6s. yd. I may have occasion, in another connection, to advert again 
to this matter of taxation. 

TIIK NOX-RKSIDKNT's MOXKV, OIJ NON-KESIDKNI 1 AX Ol 21). TlIK 
ACRK AND THE DISPOSAL Ol- IT. 

As this tax was a matter of much interest and some trouble to the 
residents of the parish, it is entitled to further notice as illustrating 
the laws and usages of the good people of that time, and especially 
the ways and means which w ere supposed to be lawful and right tor 
the raising of mone\- for the support of " learned, able and orthodox 
ministers." 

The warrant for the third parish-meeting, held in March. 1740. 
with other articles to be voted on. contained the following: 

I St. --To see what Encouragement the People will give to any 
Person or Persons for Killing Rattlesnakes in this parish. 

2d. '• To see if the Parish will agree to dispose of the Non-Resi- 
dent moncv that shall be due and coming to this Parish tor the space 
of five years from the first of January last to any Person or Person!^ 
who shall agree to -Support the Gospel in this Parish. 

.\t the above meeting it was voted : 

I St. "-That if anv person shall make it appear to the Committee 
of the Parish that he has killed one or more Rattlesnakes in this 
Precinct, in this present year, he shall have paid to him one shilling 
for everv such snake so killed, out f)f the Parish Treasury." 

Also unanimouslv voted. •• That Peter Powers & Abraham Taylor 
shall ha\ e the Total of all such sum or sums of money as is or shall 
be assessed on Land belonging to non-Resident Proprietors of this 
Parish for the space of ii\e years from the ist of January last, on 
condition that the said Powers and Taylor shall vS: do oblige them- 



44 PARISH OF WEST DUXSTABLE. [^739 tO 1 74^' 

selves & Heirs \\itli sufficient sccuvit}' to maintain and constantly 
support Preaching- in this Precinct for ye full term of ye said five 

years and Erect a Meeting House for the Public Worship of God 

agreeable to the tenor of the vote of said parish and' likewise fully 

acquit and discharge said Parish from the cost »-\: charges that have 
been expended in being set oft'frcjm Dunstalile & lieing erected into 
a separate Precinct — and also from the cost and & charges that has 
been expended in getting Timber for a Bridge across Nashaway 
River, and also to piw Mr. l^nderwood for his Preaching witli us in 
this Parish. " 

The question was once asked. "Of wliom do the Kings of the 
Earth take custom or tribute, of their own children or of strangers?" 
The answer was, "Of strangers. " It would seem from the doings 
of the above meeting that the early settlers of the ^vest parish of Dun- 
stable had taken lessons in finance from the "Kings of the Earth." 

Within about a vear from the time of this meeting", after a long 
and angry controversy, the new province line between New-Hamp- 
shire and Massachusetts was surA e\ed and established where the 
.State line now is. ]Much to the chagrin and disappointment of the 
inhabitants, that part of the old town of Dunstable now known as 
Hollis, was found to l)e in New-Hampshire. In consec[uence of this 
decision, the charter of the west parisli in Dunstal)le. granted by the 
general court of Massachusetts, was \ii-tuall\- amiulled. that general 
court having had at the time no power to grant it. With the cliarter 
the legal right to assess this tax of two ]:)ence the acre on the land of 
non-residents was also lost, and with the tax the Acrv thriftx' bargain 
with Messrs. Powers and Taylor in respect to the disposal of it. 

In this dilemma, the inhabitants promptly met (Feb. 19. i 741-2.) 
and "voted to petition the Grate and General Court of N. Hampshire 
that the Parish be made a Township, and also that tlie Parish mav 
have power to ccdlect of delinquent persons, the se^■eral sums thev 
may have been assessed at agreealile to the Lawsof tlie Massachusetts 
Province." 

But instead of granting this petition for a toAvnship-charter and to 
legalize the non-resident tax. tlie general comt, in ^larch. 1742. or- 
ganized all that part of old Dun.stalile nortli of the new province line 
and west of Merrimack ri\ cr. into a "District" for the collection of 
province taxes, with authorit\ for tliat purpose onlv, to elect district- 
assessors or selectmen, and a district-clerk and collectors of taxes. 

The first meeting for the election of District-officers, was lield umlcr 
the direction of a committee of the general court, probabh' in the east 



1739 ^'^* '74^-] I'AKISII OF WKST DINSTAHLK. 4:; 

parish, April 23. i/j-- Al this meeting^, Abraham Taylor was 
chosen clerk ; .\bruhaiu Taylor, Thomas IIar\vood, Samuel Cum- 
ings and Jonathan L()\ ewell selectmen. The record for the year 
1743 is lost. In 1744, John Boynton was district clerk ; and John 
Boynton, Jonathan Lovewell and Jerahmael Cumings, selectmen 
or assessors. In 1745, John Boynton was district clerk; John Boyn- 
ton, Jonathan Lovewell, and Jefahniael Cuniings assessors or 
.selectmen. 

SKTTMiMENT OF THE NEW I>KO\lXCE LINE. 

For a long time prior t<) the year 1739 the boundary line between 
the provinces of New Hampshire and Massachusetts iiad liccn the 
subject of protracted and acrimonious controversy. Al)()ut seventy 
vears before, Governor Endicott of Massachusetts had caused a mon- 
imient to be fixed three miles northward of the junction of the two 
rivers forming the ]SIerrimack in the present county of Belknap, and 
Massachusetts claimed all the territory in the present state of New 
Hampshire south of an east and west line passing through that point, 
and also all within three miles both east and north of the Merrimack. 

On the other hand. New Hampshire claimed all the territory Iving 
north of a line running due east and west through a point within 
three miles of the Merrimack, on its north side near its mouth. At 
last a roval commission was appointed to settle this controversy, 
which met for the purpose at Hampton Falls in this state in the year 
1737, the General Court of each province attending the sittings of 
this commission. The Governor of Alassachusetts in his coach, and 
the memliers of the General Court of that Province mounted on 
horseback, formed themselves into a procession at Boston, and marched 
in state to Hampton Falls to be present at the sessions of this tri- 
bunal. A description of this cavalcade has^ome down to us. as told 
bv a wit of the time to a son of the Emerald Isle, in the following 
pasquinade, which I present as illustrating the customs of the colo- 
nial governments under the royal charters. 

" Dear Paddy you ne'er did heliold such a sifjht, 

As yesterday mornin<r was seen before nis;ht; 
Vou in all your born days saw nor I didn't neither, 

So many fine horses and men ride together; 
At the head, the lower house trotted two in a row, 

Then all the higher house pranced after the low, 
Then the Governor's coach galloped on like the wind. 

And the last tliat came foremost were tlie troopers behind; 
But I fear it means no good to your neck or mine. 

For thev say 'tis to fix the right place for the Litu." 



46 PARISH OV WKST Dl'XsrABLE. [1739^0 1 746. 

The Comniissioii at Hampton Falls (lid not agree, and the ques- 
tion \\ as reserved for the King- in couneil. ^V decision was finally 
made in the year 1740. fixing the Province line where the State line 
now is. This decision took from the Massachuretts claim, and gave 
to New Hampshire, not only all the tlispnted tract, but also a tract 
of territory south ot that in controversy, fourteen miles m wiilth and 
extending from the Merrimack ri\er to the Connecticut, which New 
Hampshire had not before claimed, embracing all that part of old 
Dunstable north of the present State line. 

This was Tor Dunstable ••the most unkindest cut of all," being- 
tor the old town almost as troublesome, not to say as fatal, a •• place 
for the line" as his neck could ha\'e been for the Padch . cutting the 
body politic asuntler from sitle to side through its most tender and 
vital parts, hard by the ancient meeting-house and burial ground. 
This new line was lun in 1741. lea\ing in Massachusetts that part of 
the old town uow in Tyngsbftrough ami Dunstable in that State, and 
a narro\y gore from the old parish of West Dunstable, now in Pep- 
perell, and^severing from Groton a small triangular tract now in the 
south part'^of Nashua along the .State line. 

EFFECTS OF THE DECISION'. 

This decision came upon the settlers in Dunstable, north of the 
new line, with mingled surprise and consternatit)n. Dunstable was 
eminently and wholly a Massachusetts settlement. The settlers were 
nearly all from the neighboring to\\ns in that Pro\ ince, w ith whose 
people they were eonnected in sympathy, in business and by the ties 
of marriage andj^blood. Their town and parish charters and the 
titles to their lands ami impro^•ements were all Massachusetts grants. 
and their \\ hole ci\il ami ecclesiastical organizations under Massa- 
chusetts laws. This decision of the King in Council left them 
wholly out of the jurisdiction of that Pro\ince, and in legal efiect 
made all their charters, the titles to their laiuls and im])ro^•ements. 
and all statute laws regulating their civil and church polit\- wholly 
void. The decision of the King was final, and there was no ap- 
peal. Though disappointed, embarrassed and indignant, there ^\'as 
no alternati\e but submission. 

Fortunately for them, in the course of a few years afterward*, a 
compromise was efiected \\ ith the adverse claimants of their lands 
and improvements, and their titles and possessions quieted, and they 
gradual 1\- became more reconciled to the chan-'-e of their alleu-iance. 



1739 to 1746.] PARISH OF WEST DUXSTABI.E. ^7 

But this compromise and the qiiietiii}^ of tlicir titles to their laiuls 
and improvements alVorded these people no relief in respect to the 
support ot" the ministr\ and l)uildiu<; meeting-houses. 

Still, however, the inhabitants ot" West Dunstable continued to 
hold public meetings, elect ofHcers and assess taxes much as before, 
and in tlie records ot theii" doings their communitx ^\as st\led a 
*' parish'' or " precinct." Notwithstanding their disappointment in 
the loss of their charter, and at finding themselves citizens of New 
Hampshire against their \vishes, they were not vet al)le to forget the 
'• Xon-resident Money," or to abandon the hope of obtaining it. 
With this hope in view, at a public meeting held in Januarx , 1744, 
it was ^ Voted that Peter Powers should have all the non-residents' 
money that is not Collected for the four years past and the year to 
come, * * and for the said Powers to pay all the Parish Debt for 
Preaching and to any other Person for Sanis Don the Parish before 
the ordination * * and to pay the Parish £40, O. T. at the end 
of the year." It is to be inferretl troni tiie doings of a parish meeting 
in the following December, that these non-resident land-owners had 
questioned the right of Mr. Powers to collect this tax, and that it 
was not paid so cheerfully as the purchaser had hoped. .\s a last 
remedy for this trouble, it was voted at this meeting, •' that Capt 
Powers represent the Parish at the General Court of Xew Hamp- 
shire to get ye Massachusetts Act for taxing \e land in said Parish 
confirmed if he will go at his own charges — ot/icr-j:ise not to go." 

The record does not show whether Capt. Powers accepted the 
honor of the ofHcc, with its condition or not. 

The charter of Hollis as a town bore date April 3. 1746, and 
embraced a territory- much less than one-half of that contained in the 
charter of West Dunstable. This town charter was wliollv silent in 
respect to the right to tax iion-residents for anv purpose. To suppl\- 
this omission, at a town-meeting held on the 22d of December of the 
same year it was •■ X'oted to Raise two Pence per Acre Lawful 
Mone} on all the Land of Hollis for five years for v"' support of \' 
(jospel and y'' arising charges of said Town, and to Petition the 
(jrat and Generall Court for Streangth to Gather and Get the Monev 
of Xon-Residents." Samuel Cimiings, Esq., was chosen a delegate 
to present this petition, which he did in the following April. In 
answer to this petition the general court of Xew Hampshire passed 
an act taxing all the land in Hollis for four years at two pence the 
acre for the support of the ministry and finishing the second meet- 
ing-house, the frame of which had then lieen raised. All the lands 



48 PARISH OF WEST DUNSTABLE. [ 1 739 tO 1 746. 

in IloUis were taxed under this law for the next four years (as stated 
in the town records), " for the BuilcHng and Repairing a Meeting- 
House and the vSupporting the Gospel INlinistry." This tax was 
assessed in the old-tenor currency, £4 of which at that date appear 
to have been of the value of £1. lawful or silver monev. In 1747 
this tax amounted, in the old-tenor currency, to £394 17s. 8d. Of 
that sum, £2^6 6s. -Sd., or more than two-thirds of it, were assessed 
upon 33 non-resident land-owners, and the residue, £138 lis., on 
48 residents. In 1748, £506 3s. were assessed for the like purpose, 
of which £350 4s. Sd., again more than two-thirds of it, were 
assessed on 31 non-residents, and the balance on 53 residents. 
Whatever we may think of the justice of this law, it seems to have 
had the good etlect of lessening the number of non-residents, and also 
the quantitv of land in Ilollis owned by them, and of addnig to the 
number of residents, antl to their proportion of the land. In I750'. 
the last vear of the law, the resident land-owners had increased from 
48, in 1747. to 70. And the non-residents had fallen oil" from 33 in 
1747, to 24 in 17SO. and the amount of the land-tax paid by the two 
classes had become much more ecjual. 

It seems, however, that all these non-residents did not acquiesce 
in the justice of this law so cheerfully as they might have done. As 
an instance of their dislike to it, we find that in 1748 Col. Prescott's 
heirs were taxed under it the considerable sum of £48 13s. 4d. for 
the support of preaching they could not hear, and that they had had 
an article inserted in the warrant for the town-meeting asking for an 
abatement of this tax. In response to this petition, as the record 
states it, ''It was put to vote to see if the Town would Ease Col. 
Prescott's Heirs of ans- part of their Land Tax. and it was passed in 
the negative." 

To me, at least, as a native of the town, and one of the descendants 
of these worthy people, their names and memories are sacred. ''All 
their failings leaned to ^-irtue's side. " Their ashes ha^e slept for 
near a centurv in peaceful and honored graves, and the foot of the 
stranger who kn(nvs their worth wiould tread lightly upon them. I 
have made these extracts from their annals with no irreverent or 
unfilial feeling, but to illustrate some of the diflerences between the 
laws, customs and sentiments that prevailed among good and Chris- 
tian people in New-England one hundred and twenty years ago, and 
those upon the like subjects under whose iiiHuence the last two gen- 
reations have been educated. 



1 7.'^y to 174'').] riticAt iiiNt; vkdm 1739 'lo 174.1- 49 

vi{K.\(. iii.Nci iu:ioi{i: iiii: si:ttj,i;mi;n r or 'jiik iikst mimstkh, 
AND rill-; M\XNi:i{ oi" I'luninixc it. 
I'hc iHw parish had no settled minister till the spriiii;' ct 1743. — 
more than three \ears after date of the charter. In the mean time 
the inhabitants had manifested a \ cry c<jmmendal)le zeal in theii- 
etVort.s to compl\ with the laws in respect to the support of the min- 
istry. At their first jiarish meeting", as we ha\e seen, a committee 
was chosen "'to pro\ ide Preachint^ till the followiiiLj April. " In the 
month of March ])re\ lous. •• vSamuel Cumings and ICleazer I'lat^^t;"" 
were ctjmmissioned •■to provide Preachini^ and Entertainment for the 
minister for the next three months." In July. 1741. it was "voted 
that ^Vhraham Ta\ lor and Peter Powers have the non-resident monev 
for the cui^renl year to pay Mr. l^nderwood and Mr. Tow le * * * 
and t(j procnre Preaching- till the first of Januar\ next, if the monev 
shall hold out." In September. 1741- the first article in the warrant 
for a meeting then held, was "to see wdiethcr it be the minds of the 
People to do an\- thing towards the Bringing forward the vScttling of 
a Larncd and Orther I)ox Minister in this Parish." And in Feb- 
ruary. 174-- 't was " ^'oted That any Person who shall hereafter 
b^ntertain any Minister for this Parish shall have paid to him Eight 
Shillings for one Sabbath (la\ and 20'* a Week if he stay longer." 

DOINGS OI" Till-: PARISH PIJEPARATORV TO TIIK SETTLEMICNT OK 
Till-: FIRST MINISTKR. 

At a parish meeting held in October. 1741. before it was ]oubliclv 
known that any part f)f the to\vnof()ld Dunstable was on the wrong 
siile of the province line, it was voted. 

1st. "'That Stephen Harris. Abraham Taylor iK: Peter Powers be 
joyncd in Con"m"iittec with Benjamin Farle\ and .Samuel Cumings to 
tike some proper Measures to bring forward the settling of a Larned 
and Orther Dox ^Minister in this Parish as soon as conveniencv will 
alow. " 

2d. '-That said Conuuillee be directed toobservethe following in- 
structions, vi/... That they wait upon the Rev. Mr. Trobridge. Mr. 
llemmingway. and the Re\ . Mr. Bliss and Mr. Swan and desire 
their assistance in keeping and solemnizing a I)a\ of Fasting aiul 
Prayer in this Parish and Seeking the Direction of Ileaxen in the 
aflair. " 

3d. "That said Committee should make their .Vddress to said 
Ministers for their achice and Direction what Ministers to apjiK our- 
selves too to Preach with us on Probation." 
(4) 



50 pREAcjiixt} FKOM \ J yj 'i'> 1743- [^739'^** '74'^'' 

At a parish nicctinjj,- Dec. 28. 1741. among the acc<junts prcscntcHl 
and allowed were the following: 1 

•■ \'oted to alow Abraham T;i\ lor ■ — 

•• For Entertaining Ministers at the Fast t'3. oo\ o''. 

'* For Entertaining Ministers Fi\'e Sahhalhs t'j. oo\ o''."" 

The warrant tor this meeting was the last in w hich the \\()r(ls 
"•jNIiddlesex ss."" were Asritten in the top margin. It soon became 
known to them that the parish of West Dnnstable was not in the 
county of Mitldlesex. that their charter, as a legal instrument, was 
wortliless. and tliat there a\ as no law Iw w hich the minorit\ of the 
inhabitants could l)e bound b\- the Notes of a majorit\ . Embarrassed 
bv the decision in respect to the new line and the loss ot their 
charter, our ancestors did not faltei' in their effort to luring forward 
and settle a •• Earned and Orther Dox Minister." With this end. 
and others in \ lew. the inhabitants, as we haxe said betore. met in 
FebruarN , 1742. and petitioned the (ieneral Court of \'ew Ilamji- 
shire for a townshi}) charter. No other public meeting of the in- 
habitants was held till the 17th of January. 1743. near a \ear after, 
when the\ came together \)y common consent, and b} mutual agree- 
ment in theii' personal and indixidual ca])acit\'. in\ itetl the Rc^■. 
Daniel Emerson, the candidate of their choice, to become their min- 
ister. ^Vs I think the proceedings of this meeting and of that \\hich 
next followed, cannot fd! to interest others as well as myself. I ha\e 
taken pains to transcribe the substance ot ihem trom the recoi'd. 

rjiE CALL OK riiK sociiirv. answ i-.i; 01 1111; eAM)ii>A ri<;. iiis 

SETTLEMENT AM) SAEAin". AXD IIIE WA^S AND MKAXS oh' 

i>Ro\iDi\(", rr. 

•• Att a meeting of the Inhabitants of the West I'arish in Dunsla- 
Ide regularh- assendiled January 17. 174-'. 3. Aliraham d'aylor 
chosen moderator. 

•• I'nanimonsK \ oted and chose Mi". Daniel Emerson toi' their 
(iospel Minister to take the Pastoral care of the Flock of Christ in 
said Place. Also. 

•• UnanimousK voted antl agreed to gi\e said Mr. lilmerson (on 
condition of his acceptance) for and towaid his .Settlement ±'400. 
common currenc\ or t'loo of the Alassachusetts last Emition. Also 

•• Unanimoush \oted to give said Minister for his yearly Sallcry. 
During his MinistiA in said Place such a certain sum of 13ills of Credit 
as will lie eciual to tift\ Pounds of the Massachusetts last Emition 
(new). Also, 



ly^cj lo ly^G-l snTTLi:>[KNT ok mh. i;mi:hson. 



*• \'otcHl to give Thirty Cords of l-'irt' Wood. C'i>rd WDoil Lfni;lli 
att said Ministers Door yearK . Also. 

•• Voted and chose .Vbrahani ra\ lor. Samuel IJrow n. l.iiocli 
Hunt, Eleazcr Flagg. Samuel Cumings. Peter Powers. William 
Colburn, Stephen Harris and Robert l^lood to wait u])on said Mr. 
Emerson and communicate imto him tlie mintls and Pro])osa!s ot' 
said Parish and ilesire his answer therein in con\enient time. 

'• In testimcjny w iiereot' we have hereunto set our hands the Dav 
above said."' 



Sa.mlki. Hrown 
Abkaham Tavi.ok 
Enoch Hint 
William Siiattcck 
William Coliuhn 
Stf.i-iien IIakkis 
Elea/ek Flagg 
Benjamin Faki.ev 

JekAIIMAEI. ClMINGS 
SAMI-EL Cl MINGS 

David Nevins 
Joshua Wkigiit 
James Stewakt 
SrEniEN Ames 
RouEKT Blood 



Benj. Blanchakd 
Zedekiah Dkikv 
Heteh Powers 
Jonathan Dankorth 
Samiel Farley 
William .Vdams 
Nicholas F'rencii 
Zerlhhahei. Kemi' 
Peter Wheeler 
JosiAii Brown 
William Blanchari> 
Henry Barton 
N'atiianiel Blood 
F^lnatiian Blood 



David Lowell 
Thomas Nevins 
Thomas Patch 
Nathaniel BLoiw.Err 
Moses Proctor 
John Brown 
Daniel Kendall 
JosiAii Blood 
William Nevins 
Samcel DolC.LASS 
Joseph McDanikls 
James Mc Daniels 
James Whiting 
Joseph F'arlkv 
Makins; in all 4^ iiaiiies. 



The parish committee were ijrom]^! in communicatini^ the lore- 
going call to Mr. Emerson, and on the 4lh ot' the follow ino; March 
a meeting was called to consider his answer, which was entered u]:)on 
the record as follows : 

•■ To the Iidiabitants of the West Parish in nunstal)le." 

••Whereas it has pleased the C/reat (iod (wlio has llu- Hearts of 
all men in his Hands) — to disjjose and incline \our hearts to in\ite 
me U) take the oversight of vou and to Laboiu' among \ ou in Word 
and Doctrine as appears bv a vote preferred to me Iw the Committee. 
l)earing date Jan. ij. 174-. ,v 1 have fi^om thai lime takin that im- 
portant matter into tiie most close consideration and ha\e asked the 
best advice and am (after many and great difficulties in the wav) 
come to this conclusion without Hesitation \i/. : 

•• If you will fullfill your Promis as to the £400 Settlement in old 
Tenor, only that the one part of it be in Fortv Acres of (Jood Land, 
near and convenient to the Meeting House, firmlv antl forever con- 
vaied to me. and the other Part to be paid in Bills of Publique credit 

within a year from the date of this Answer And that for mv 

yearh Sallary you give me such a certain vSum of Bills of Publique 
credit Acarlv. as shall be equal to i :;o ounces of coined Sihcr. which 



^2 SETTLEMENT O!' MR. E.MEliSOX 

is the sum }<.)U j^ropusc- 



[1739 to 1746. 



-together \^■ith Thirt\ Curds of \\'oot! 

Cord Wood Length deli\ercdat my Door And :it\cr your Parish 

Town or Distriet shall hy the Providenee oi'Ciod lie inereascd to the 
numhcr of 100 Families (and not desired or expeeted till then) you 
make an addition to m\' \earl\ vSa.Uary of ii\'e ounees ot eoined vSil- 
Ycr per a ear till the same shall he equal to 200 Ounces of coined 
■Silver — th.ere to al)ide till the numher of your Families arise to 150 
— and tlien to Raise Five Ounces of Coined ,Sil\cr per year till it 
arrives at 210 Ounces of Coined Siher — and tliere to abide and 
be no more, which is equal to i'70. of the Massachusetts last 
Emiti(.>n — Alwavs expecting the Thirty Cords of \Vood — And 
that these .Se\er.d vSums oi" Simi l)e continued to me, so long as T 
continue a Ghospel Minister o\-er m:)u — Always and in an espetial 
3Tiauner expecting th.at \-ou will be Helpers with me by Prayer 

"Now if these before mentioned conditions be freely and \-olun- 
tarilv acted on and secured lo me — as you promist in the call — 
then 1 as frcch' and willingh accept of the call and freely sul)scril)e 
nivself \()urs to ser\'e in the work of the (ihospel AIinistr\- During 
Life. 

••Dunstable West Pi'ecinct ?»iLirch y' qthi 1743. 

•• Da\ii:i. Emi:!;s()\." 

The record continues. ••It was tliereupon \'oted and agreed to 
-accept tb.e Terms Mr. Lmersf)n j)roposed in his answer l)outh as to 
settlement and sallar\' — Also Voted that Samuel l>ro^,vn, Abraham 
Tavlor. Peter Pov\ers. Eleazei' Flagg and vSanuicl Cumings lie a 
committee to consult with Mr. Emerson in the clioice of a council." 

On the same dav and at the same meeting, as it appears in the 
I'ecord. a mutual advhtional agreement was entered into by the tax 
pavers, and signed 1)\' most of them, with a preamble setting forth 
tlie reasons that made this new agi'ecment !iecessar\-. tlie important 
parts of which are as follows : 

"'Whereas his maiest\' b\" the late detci'minatioii of tlie Northern 
Boimdarv of the ]\Lissachusetts has left us the Snbscriliers. Inhalii- 
tants of the Westerly part of Dunstable out c)f the Pro\ince to 
which we always supposed we belonged, and imder whose 
Laws wc Exercised the Privileges of a Parish — Init bv the said de- 
termination it is supposed by some that said Lihaliitants are Dis- 
■(|ualitied to make any Act, Agreement or Determination b\- a ma- 
jority of voters as they othei'wise might ha\'e done that should be 
Effectual to compel Persons to pa\- their honest Proportion of all 



'739^'* i7-(6.] coNTKAcr wrni mk. icmi.msox. 



53 



Mich R;itc's and ncccssar\' clKirt^vs that shall arise in calliiiL;- settling 
aiul niaintainiii<^ a minister. 

•"Xow therefore that we iiia\ ICiiJdv the Henelit of the Ghospel 
ordinances anionj^st us we have come into the follow in^ aLCreemeut 
and ohlij^ation viz." 

The contract w ith Mr. I'merson is set lorlh in this new agree- 
ment, verl)atim. and the record then continues as tollows : 

•• AUso agreetl that in the Payment of the Ministers .Settlement Sc 
Sallary the assessors hereafter to be chosen Proportion such a cer- 
tain part thereof to each Pole that when the Remainder thereof shall 
be levietl upon Each Persons' Real and Personal Kstate, agreeable 
to the Rules cjf the Massachusetts Province, that the highest Paver 
upon Estates shall he equal to a single Pole."' * * * * 

••To the Performance of the aforewritten agreement we hereby 
covenant and oliligc ourselves in the Penal sum of i'loo, till such 
time as this societ\' lie incorporated a ilistinct Town or Parish." 

Thirty-se\en names were signed to this agreement, some of which 
were not upon the call. This agreement, as w ill be readilv seen, 
was a voluntary compact, entered into by tJKJse who signed it as 
their best expedient for the lack of a town or parish charter. 

Some other matters suggested by this contract between Mr. 
bZmerson antl his societ\" are worthv of a few passing remarks, as 
illustrating the laws, customs ancl prevailing sentiments of the times 
as well in civil as in church aH'airs. 

1st. It was agreed in this contract that the new minister for the 
present should receive for his yearlv salarv i ^o ounces vii coined 
silver, or their equal value in bills of public credit, the paper monev 
of that day, and also 30 cords of wood. \\'lien the number of 
families in the societ\ sliould reach foo. the ounces per \ear were to 
be adtled, till the salar\ should amount to ioo ounces. ;;nd it might 
afterwards be increa.sed to 210 ounces. 

The oz. Tro\ . used in N\eighing the precious metals, contains 
480 grains. The ^Vmerican siher dollar contains .ji 2 1-2 of those 
grains, making the value of the oz. of silver coin $1 . 14 : 1^0 oz. 
= ipi7i : Joooz. =$.228: and 2 10 oz. =$239.40. in slanda id federal 



Mr. Emerson was ordained April 20. 1743. and he continued a 
taithtul. \enerale(l and popular minister of that societ\ till Nov. 27. 
1793, a period of more than tlft\ \ears, without a change, •• or wish 
to change his place."' \' the latter date the Rev. Eli Smith, w ho 



54 



LoxTi". AC r WITH mi;. i-;.mi-:i!sox. [i739^" ^74'^- 



had married his L;ra;id-daii;^htcr. was settled as his colleague. Mr. 
Emersi)]! retaining one-half ot his sa]ar\ till his decease. Sept. ^o, 
i8c:)i. at the age ofS:^ \ ears. 

Dui'ing that long period the salar\- of the minister, in accordance 
with the tenor of their contract, was assessed upon the inhabitants of 
the town a.t the annual ?\larch meetings, and al\\a\s \otcd. so fir as 
appears fron-i the recorvl. without dissent or opposition. ^Vs we ha\e 
seen, in the acceptance ot the pro]:)osals made to him b\' the societx . 
Ml'. I'^merson closeil his answer with the words. •• ^'oiu^s to ser\e in 
the wori< of the ( ihospel ministrx' during life."" ^\'e JKne in the pas- 
torate ol ^4r. I'Lmerson. an a]5t illustration ot what was undei'stood 
In our ancestors i _^c) \ears ago. b\' the settlement ot a ministei' in a 
count)'\ town in \e\\ h^ngland. ••(lui'ing lite." 

2(1. We ha\e seen thai the societ\ in their proposals to the candi- 
date agieed to gi\'e him such a sum in bills of public cre(iitas would 
])e e(iual to t'^o of the ■•Massachusetts last l'"mition."" 44iis Alassa- 
chuselts last emission was. at that dale, the latest issue of paper 
mone\ b\ that ]iro\ince. one pountl oi which, at that time, was 
worth $3-3,^ in coin, but like all ]:)ape)' mone\ was \er\- liable to de- 
j:)reciate. Xot intending tiiat the \alue ol" his pastoral ser\ ices should 
depreciate, aspaper moiie\ might. Mi', b.mersonin accepting the call. 
s\ith ^omewhai ot worldK wistion.i. not to sa\' ^ an.i<ee slirew dness- 
took occasion to ti'anslate this f^o in papei' mone\ into its equixalent 
at the time in hard cash. 1>\ this thoughtlul caution, he secured to 
himself loi' the iollow ing tiftx' \ears and more. a. fixed hard nionex' 
l)asis fi'- t!ie \alue of his parochi.il du.ties. a liasis e\"ei' ai'terwards rc" 
sp^ected b\ (he ])eoi)le of the town. 

The \ariable and uncei'tain \ alue ol" the ]")a)~ier mone\' in use in 
Xew llampsiiii-e. as show 11 lr\ tlie town records, from 1741 till 
near the i-e\oluti'>nary war. and also duiing that ^\'ar. is the Itest 
commentary u.pon the caution and foresight of Mr. b]merson in mak- 
ing his contract as he did. The General Coui't of Massachusetts 
first issued bills of' credit, as niouew in 1690. of \-\hich a fac simile is 
to l)e foimd in the !!istoi-ical Collections of that state f >r the \-car 
18O3. In the yeai- i 74S that }>ro\ince h.ad its bills of credit In circu- 
lation, issued at dilU'i'ent limes, to the nominal amount of A':;. 200.000. 
These i)ills of ci-edii at that time had so de]:>reciated that L'l in siher 
was equal in \alue lo i'l 1 in papei'. Alxait ihat time this pai)er 
nione_\ \'\ as redeemed at that rate(ele\en f)i' one) in Spanish dollars, 
whicli hatl been recei\-ed from lingland in paxment oi' the ser\ ices 



'739'^" ^74*^'-] '"'• '"-" I'-^oi; i'aim.k mom.n 



ol' iIk' M;i-->;iclui^c'tts tioo])^. ;U tile sic^c and ca|)UirL- ot Louisljiirj^-. 
in 1/4^. I>iit ill W'w 1 lampshire. from \J\i to 176^. there ajjpcar.s 
to have heeii \er\ little if any metallic nioiiL-x in use as a medium of 
exchaii<^e. As shown by the town records, the taxes tor all pur- 
poses, duriiit;' that period, were assessed and collected in some sort ot" 
l^aper nK^ney. Even the names by w hicli the \arious kinds and 
issues of this currency were known at the time, are to most of the 
])reseiit generation an unsohed riddle. 

.\mon54- these names we shall tind on tlie records: ••mamifactor\' 
bills." '"Mass. old tenor." ••.\. II. old tenor." "Mass. new tenor." 
••N. 11. new tenor." "Mass. new emission." •• \. II. new 
■emission." •• lawful money." i\:c.. ».\:c. : all apparentU ditleriii^- in 
\alue as well as in name. 

I'rior to 1760 the number of t'ainilies in Mr. ICmerson's sf)ciet\ had 
not increasetl to one hundred. consequeiitlN' he w as not \ et entitled to 
an increase of his salarv bexond the \alue of i:;ooz. of silver, or of 
that of the t'^o of the Massachusetts last emission, as it was at the 
time of his settlement. 

Vnv the payment of this sakiry (ecpial as we ha\ e seen to $171 in 
federal mone\). weHiultliat the inhabitants were assessed, in the 
years named below . the followini^- sums in the pajicr mone\ then in 
use. 1753- -777- lo^ ')''• ^^- I- 17(^10. t'404. 9\ 8''. Mass. (). T 
1761. i'415. 6\ X. II. X. Tenor. 1763. 1-447. '5~- ^^''- ^"- 'I- ('• '^'• 
1770. t'67. 13". S''. L. M. or sihei- money. In the year last named 
pa])er money appe;irs to ha\ e t^one w liolh out of use. The like 
\ariation in the \alue of this currenc\ is shown in the prices fixed for 
the tliiity cords of wood to be furnished vearl\- to the minister. This 
wood was commonb assessed upon the tax ]5a\ers tVom \ear to \ear 
in kiiul. each of them beiiiL;' required to t'urnish at the minister's door 
ii certain number of feet. If not delivered at the time fixed bv \()te 
of the tow 11. the (leiiiU|neiit was to pd\ for it at a price xoted at the 
pre\ ions March meetin;^-. The jirice of a cord of wood fixed in this 
way for diflerent vears was: for 1748. t'l.: 17SO. £'2. 10'; 1760. 
.iKi. : 1770. T,\ 6''. htwful o|- siher money, ecpial to 1ift\ -eii^ht cents. 

3d. \\ e shall also tind. Iw examination of these records, that the 
mode of assessin<4 taxes at that time, and the wa\' in which thev were 
apportioned between polls and estates, were radicalh dilVereiit from 
our modern \ lews and iisaj^es. 

W e lia\ e seen, in the a<^reemeiil entered into amoii'L; themselves 
J)\ the members nl" Mi', laiierson's societx . that b\ mutual consent 



56 



TIIK OI.D TEXOK PAPKK MO^•E^^ [1/39 to '74'^^' 



they Hxcd upt^n a basis of taxation, as to polls and property, which, 
as stated in that instrument, '• was agreeable to the rule ot' the ]\Ias- 
sachusetts province." This rule was to the effect, that the tax tor 
the support of the minister should be so apportioned amon<4' such as 
had real and personal estate and those suliject to a poll tax only, in 
such way that a single poll tax should be equal to the highest tax on 
propert\'. In other \vords. the ^\ hole amoimt of the propert^■ tax of 
the richest man in the town could be no more in amount than t\vice 
the poll tax of the poorest who was taxed at all. Under the law of 
Alassachirsetts, as \ye ha\e before seen, male persons w ere subject to 
a poll tax at eighteen, and the same law was at the time in force in 
Xe\y Hampshire. 

In illustration of this rule of taxation. 1 will cite an example or 
two. The fn-st tax after the ordination of Mr. h^merson was for £35, 
assessed to pa\ tor the entertainment of the ordaining council. Ot 
that sum, t'27. ()\, or more than three-foinths of it. were assessed 
upon lifty-seyen persons as a poll tax. and the balance, less than f8, 
upon propert\'. 

The next tax was foi- £635. 9s. 6(1. for Mr. h^merson's Ncttlement 
and salary for the first year. Of that sum, £'418. 9s. 6(1. were 
assessed as a poll tax on sixt\-t\\'o persons, or about t\yo-thirds ot 
the whole. 

^Vs in taxes assessed for other ])in"poses. so in those tor the supi)ort 
of the minislrw there was no law for the exemption of the person or 
propert\- (jf an\ one except by xote of the town. The law in this- 
respect appears to haye been in full accord with popular sentiment, 
and the majority of tlie people were su.fliciently tenacious ot their 
legal rights under il. As an instance of public sentiment upon ihe 
question. ^\ e lind that as late as 1785. Mr. Edward SpaKhng had an 
article inserted in the \varrant for the annual March iiieeting : •• To^ 
see if it were the minds of .the people to exempt his estate from min- 
isterial tax. for the reason that he belonged to the Baptist denomina- 
tion." This (|uestion being subnutted to the meeting, ••the minds 
of the people'" found expression in the tbllow ing clear and emphatic 
terms: •• \'ole(b that tlie estate of Edward S])al(ling shall not lie 
treed from minister's tax for the time ]:)ast. present, or to come." 



CHARTKK OK HOI. I. IS. 5/ 



C II A V T ]■: R IV. • 

1746 TO 1750. CIIAUTKR OF MOLLIS. ETC. ORIGIN OK TIIK NAME, 

FIRST TOWN MEETING. SECOND MEETINf} rlOl'SE. P1-:\V 

(JROUNO AND PEWS. CAKE OF THE M EIITINCJ-HOISE. LAND 

TAX. SINGINC;. ETC. 

The district organization of all that part of old Dunstable lying 
north of the new Prf)vince line, and west of the Merrimack river, con- 
tinued unchani^ed from 1742 till the sjiring of 1746. This district 
organization, as we have seen, was for the single purpose of assess- 
ing and collecting Province taxes. Earlv in the vear 1746. the 
Governor and Council, w ith a view to the di\ ision of this district 
into townships, appointed ti\e Commissioners to examine the ter- 
ritory :uul to report in \\ hat way it could be I)est subdivided into 
township corporations. 

At the last public meeting of the inhabitants of West Dunstable, 
held Feb. iS. 1746. John Boynton. Thomas Dinsmore. and Benja- 
min Parker were appointed a committee on the ])arl of the people 
to meet those Commissioners and to represent to them the ^vishes of 
the settlers in West Dunstalde in respect to the proposed incorpor- 
ations. These Commissioners conxened at the East parish. Thev 
were waited upon there, as is said. b\ the Committee from West 
Dunstable and recjuested to \ isit and \ iew the west part of the Dis- 
trict ; but the Commissioners declined going anv farther to the \\ e^t. 
In pursuance of the report of this commission, the district of Dun- 
stable was very soon tlivided and incorporated into the four to\\ nships 
of Dunstable, Holies. Merrimack and Monsf)n. With the exception 
of their boimdaries. the charters of these townships were siibstan- 
tialb alike, those of Dunstable and Monson. being dated Apiil i, 
that of Merrimack. A])ril 2. and tliat of Ilollis. April t,. i 74'^>. 



5S 



CHARTKK ()!• IIOIJ,lS. 



(.■iiAiiri:!; oi' iioi.r.is. 



[174^ to 17^0. 



*• Province of XcAV Hanii:)sliiic. 1 ,, , .. ,1 , 

^^_, (_TC()i'gc the Secoiul. n\ the 

, I ! Grace of God of Great l^rit- 

■j Seal I ain. France and Ireland. Kiiii^-. 

^ j I Defender of the Faith. &c. 




Enjow 

•• ^Vnd it appearing' to ns to lie conducixe to the (Jeiieral (ioinl of 
our said Pro\ince as well as of said Inliabitants in particular. I)\ main- 
taining- (jood order and I^ncouraging the Culture of the Lantl that 
the same shall he Done. Know ye therelore that Wee of our .Spe- 
cial Grace, certain Know ledge and tor the Encouragement and Pro- 
moting the Good Purposes and luids afoix'said : — B\- and with the 
ad\'ice of our trusty ant! l)elo\ed P)enning \\'entw <n-t]i. I-2s(|.. (io\-- 



ad\'ice of our trust\- ant! l)elo\ed P)em 
ernor antl Commandei- in Chief, and or 
\ince. 



ling \\'ent\\ (U'tli. 

- ... _ : our Coimcil for said Pro- 

aAc erected, incoi-poi-ated and ordainetl. and Iw tliese Pres- 
ents ior us and our Heirs and Successors Do will and ordain that 
the Inhahitants of tlie Tract of Pant! af(>resaid. hountled as t'ollows 
\-i/.. l>eginning at Xasliawa\ Ri^ er where the Xoi'therh- Bon!idar\ 
Line of tlie Pro\ince of Massachusetts \]:\\ ci-(.sses that Ri\er: 
Tlien running Xoi'th f^igiity Degrees \\'est on said Line vSi\ miles 
and Xinety Six Kods: ThenXorthlw tJR- needle on Dunstahle An- 
tient Dead Line four>Jiles and one llundred and I'\)i-t\- Ro(!s ; 
Then South Eighty Degrees ICast by the Xeetlle to ]\huldy iJrook : 
Then hy Muddy iJrool^ into Flint's Pont! ; Then In Flint's i5roolx to 
Xa.shaway Pi\er; d'hen by Xashawa\ River to tlie Place Wdiere it 
first began; And (the\- who) sliall iidiabit the same be and 1)\' 
these Pi'esents are dechii-etl and ord. lined to be a. 'I'ow n Corporate and 
are herein' Erected an.d Incorporated into a l)odi\- Corporate and Cor- 
poration to ha\e ct)ntinuance !'oi-e\'er b\ tlie name of I lollcs With 
all the Powers antl Authorities. Prix ileges. Immunities and Fran- 
chises \\ hich other Towns \vithin tjur said Pro^dnce or an}' of them 




>fEl^f^^ 



^\^ 



Copy or a pian 
OMnisACKOFJHc Originai Chahtch 

THIS 5'~DAY or APftIL /746 

JH£OO0fi£ AtHJMSON 

Secr'\ 



OUNSTAILE.HOLLES. 

M E R R I M A C K.'°M N S N. 



'^ 



A5 CH/SRTCR ED 

April, J 74^6 



ec-^ ''one's ^ / r^ acs^QAi 



17|6.] t IIAIMI.Its ol 1)1 \S I Al'.ll.. MON.sON. i:if. 59 

])\ Law lia\L' and l'".ni()\. To liaxi.' and lo liold tin.- said Powers 
and Aiilh<)rilii.'s. Iinniunities and l'"raneliises to llicni llic said In- 
lial)ilants and ihoir Sulccssois Ioicnlt. 

"• .l/zct7\'s A'cscrz'/z/i;' to us our J Icirs and Successors. . \ll W liilc 
/'///(■ 7'rccs i;ro-j..'///i;a)/i/ />c/i/i^\ and wJiic/i shall hereafter i^roiv 
on said J'ract of J^and fit for the //se of our Jioyal Xavy : .Mso 
the Pow cr of Di\ idiiii^ tlic Said 'I'ow n to us our Ilcirs and Successors 
w hen it shall appear necessar\ or con\enienl lor the henelit ot the 
Jidiahilants thereol". 

••-\nd as the Sexeial Towns Within our said Pro\ ince are 1)\ the 
Law tliercof Enal)led and Authorized to Asseinhle and hy the Ahi- 
joritv ot' \'otes lo ehuse all such ollleers as are mentioned in Said 
Law. We do h\ these Presents noininale Col. Joseph Blanchard to 
call the first meeting- ot' the Said Inhahitants to he held within the 
Saiil Town at an\ time w ithin thirtx days from the date hereof. 
(iiNiu'L^ \l-<j;a\ notice of the Time Place and Dcsi<rn of Iloldin'^ Said 
Meetint;-. In Teslimon\ Whereof We ha\ e caused the .Seal of oiu" 
.Said Pro\ ince to he hereunto afKxed. 

Witness, Ik-nninn" Wenlworth. lCs(|.. our (jo\ernor. and Com- 
niandcr-iii-Chief of our said Pro\ince the third day of .Vj^ril. in the 
\ ear of oiu' Lord Christ. 174(1. and in the 19th year of oui^ Keij^u. 

B. W'kx r\\ oRTii. 

1>\ his E\cellenc\'s Command with the adx ice of Council, 

Tiii:oi)OK]d .\.-nN.iNS()N. Scct'y. 

BOL"XDAiiii:s (»i niNsrAr.i.i:. as ciiAirri:iii:i) aim;ii. i. 1746. 

•• Hc'j^inninj^- at the Ri\ er Merrimack at the Xorthern boundary 
Line of the Proxince of Massachusetts Hay and runs from the Ri\er 
Merrimack. North. Ei^litv Dei^rees. West. I'n e miles and t'orty rods 
lo Nashua River. Then b\ said Ri\er to Flint's lirook ; thence In 
Flint's Brook into Flint's pond : then In a run of water into Muddy 
))r()ok. and dow n Mu(ld\ brook into Peiuiichuck ]5ond : then In 
Pennichuck hrook into Merrimack ri\ er to the place where it hrst 
l)C.ijun." 

nOfNOAIlIKS OI" MONSOX. 

•• ncLjinninn at the West Line of Dunstahle. old Town, four miles 
and one hundred and forty rods north. In the magnet, ot the north- 
ern boiuularv line of the Pro\ince of Massachusetts Ba\ : then south- 



6o 



CHARTERS OV Dl'XSTABI.E. ^[OXSOX, ETC. 



[1746. 



erl}- eighty degrees, east, to Miuldy brook : then h\ that lirocjk to 
Peniiicluick p(jn(l and from the north end of saitl p(jnd. north. In- the 
niagnet. to Sonhegan river; tlien ])v the saitl river to the liead hue 
on the west side of oUl Dnnstal)le ; tlien sonth, l^v the niagnet. on 
tliat Hne lo llie phice where it begnn."" 



ORIGINAL BOIXDARIES Ol" MERRIMACK. 

'•• Ik'giiming at the Merrimack viwy where Pennichucl-: brook 
comes into that ri\er ; then bv Peimichnck l)rook to Fennichnck 
pond: then due north, liy tlie magnet, to Sonhegan river: thenb\- 
that ri\er to ^lerrimack river : then on the west side of >derrimack 
ri\er to th.e place >vhere it Hrst Itegnn." 

On the 5tli (ki.y of June. 1750. that {)art of the present town of 
Merrimack north of the Soulicgan. was ann.exed to that to\vn 1)\- an 
amendment of its original charter. 

^Ay>/////_^'7/<:7w J/V.s-/. //c?u' Iludsoii. on the east side of ]Men-imack 
river, being, as at first incorporated, wholh' within ancient Dim- 
stable, and rvlhaiii^ embracing its extreme eastern part were also 
iiicorporated as toxcus Iw the (TOAcrnor and Council of New Hamp- 
shire, in 174'^^- I.itchficld. as chartered b\- the (General Coint of 
^fassachuscLts. in 1 734- ^'^ \ve base seen. la\- upon lioth sides of the 
^Merrimack, was also within old Dunstalile. That part of Litch- 
tieh! on the east side of the Merrimack was chartered as a town b\ 
the ( ro\ ernor and Council of New Hampshire. June ^. 17-J9. 

All these New Hampshire town charters, unlike those granted b\' 
the (ienerad Court of Arassacbusctls. \\ere wholh' silent in respect 
to the •• settlement aiid ma.intainance of able arid orth(.)dox minis- 
ters " and the building of meeting-houses. IJeiming WeiUworth. 
at that time the ro\;d (jo\ernor of New I lampshire. was an ICjjisco- 
paban and a zealous adherent of the Church of England, and it 
m;iy well be supposed that he h:id no special s\-mpath\ with the 
current orthodoxNof the times as taught in the Cambritlge Platfirni 
and the AssembU's Catechism. 

Instead of the like contlitions as in the Massachusetts charters 
in respect to orthodox ministers and meeting-houses. (jo\ernor 
Wentworlh in these New Hampshire charters expressh reserxecL 
for the use of the ro\al nav^ . all suitable white pine trees then 
g"rowing and being and which should afterwards grow in the towns 
so chartered, thus I'ix in«i' for the use of His Maiest\'s na\ \ all such 



i7-|6.] Tin; NAMi; oi" mollis and n^ ork.in. 6i 

trees as were best adapted to tlie hiiildiiiy of ortliodox mectiiv^- 
lioiises. 

By a Piovincc Law of New I Ianii:)shirc. passed in i/ij. il w ;i> 
enacted. •■That it should l)e hiwful for the free-hohlers of a town, 
convened in puhlie Town Meetinti^ to make choice of a minister for 
the supplv f)f said town, and to ajj^ree \vhat annual salarv should 
lie paid him," and it was made tiie duty of the selectmen '• to make 
Rates upon the Inhabitants of the town for the pavmcnt of the 
Salary of the minister in the same manner as for other to\vn 
charges." When a minister was chosen and settled under this law. 
all the tax-jjayers in the town were liable to be taxed for his sup- 
port, it making no tlitTerence. as it would seem, li^ to this liabilit\ , 
Avhcther the minister were a Calvinist. Episcopalian. Presbyterian. 
Baptist, or New Light. 

" Or Li-ilit tli:it ^liiiics when few arc ni;rli, 
lur .Si)iriui;il trades t'> cozen hv." 

In Alassachusetts, at that time, as hr.s been shown, no minister 
.satisfied the law ludess •• able, learned and orthodox." 

'niL XAML Axn rrs oimgin. 

\\'itliin m\' remembrance, there has bcju mucli controvers\- upon 
the cjuestion whether the name of Ilollis should l)c spelt with the 
Jcttcr / or c in the last syllable, and also as to the person in whose 
honor the town ^yas named. Mr. Farmer, in his Gazetteer of New 
Hampshire, spells it with an /. and tells us that the name was either 
derived from the Duke of Newcastle, whose family name was Ilollis. 
or from Thomas Ilollis. a distinguished licncfactor of Harvard Col- 
lege ; iSIr. Farmer spelling both names •• //c///.s-." Hon. J, B. Hill, 
in his history of Mason, says the name was derived tVom that of the 
Duke of Newcastle, whose famil\ name was Holies : Mr. Hill using 
the letter c in the last syllable. Frcjm the best evidence at my com- 
mand upon the c|uestion, I ha\e no doidit that Mr. Hill is correct, 
lioth in the orthography of the name and also in that of the j^erson 
for whom the town was called. In the original record of the tow n 
cliarter. now at Concord, and in the copy of the charter on the 
Ilollis record, the name is spelt Holies. In the town records t'or 
the twentv-ilve years and more before the war of the revolution tlie 
name occurs hundreds of times, and. so far as I have seen, is uni- 
formly spelt Holies as in the charter, and is so spelt in the New 
Hampshire Laws published as late as iSi^. 



6: 



TIIK NAME OF irOLI.IS AND I'lS OUIGIX, 



[1746. 



At the time Ilollis was chartered. I^eiininti,' W'entwortli. as we 
ha\'e seen, was <;'u\ernor. AJr. \\'eiit\\orth was aj^pointed to that 
ottice m I 741. ar.d lield it till 1765. He \vas imlebted to the Dvike 
of Newcastle for this appointment, wlio was at the time, and for 
some years after, secretary of state tor the colonies, this commission 
costin!4' the friends of (jov. Wentworthi £"300 in fees and expenses o^ 
solicitation. 

In a work entitled "• Hurke's Extinct Peerag'es of Great Britain," 
no\v in tlie lil)rar\ of the New Enodand Historic, , (jcnealogical 
Societ\' in [Boston. I fmd that the original name of this Did-:e of 
Newcastle was Thomas Pelham. (an English baron). This Thomas 
Pelham ( \\ hose mother was (irace Plolles) a\ as a nephew and the 
adopted son and heir of his nncle, the preceding Dnke of Newcastle, 
who was childless, and whose famih name was Holies. Upon the 
death of the old dnke (his nncle). this nephew succeeded to his 
estates and tules. and assnmetl his tamiK name and was afterward 
known as Thomas Pelham Holies. 

It was \ er\' much a custom with (ton . \\ entworth to name towns 
in NTav I lampshire. chartered 1>\' him. in honor ot his friends and 
patrons connectetl Avith the home gxnernment. Tlie towns of Mon- 
son. Hollis and Pelham were all chartered the same vear, 174^'- ^''i*^' 
while the Dnke of Ne\\ castle (Thomas Pelham Holies) was still 
secretar\' of state tor the colonies. Moiison was the tamih' name ot 
one of the hoard ot tlie Lords ot colonial trade, and that fact. I aj)- 
prehend, accounts tor the name ot the extinct lo\\'n of ^Slonson. 
Pelham. the original famih name ot this Did<e ot Newcastle, was 
perpetuated in the name of the tow 11 of Pelham. in the same \va^• 
and for the like reason that Holies, his name h\' atloption. \\'as in- 
tended to he in that of the town of Hollis: the gratefid go\ ernor. 
besides the £30(3. thus ]:)a\ing his patron the double compliment. 
— much in the same wa\ as Ids successoi'. (to\-. John Wentworth. 
commemorated the maiden name of his wife. Frances r3eering. in 
the names of two of otu' neighboring towns. Francestown and 
Deering. as an expi'ession of his gratitude for her acceptance of his 
hand at the end of two sad. loneh weeks of \vido\\hoo(l. Whate\cr 
ma\ ha\ e been the special obligations of Penning Wentworth to 
the Duke of Newcastle, the ])eople of New lingland had very little 
reason to think well of him. Mr. Bancroft, in his history, sa\ s of 
him. •■ that he was of so fee!)Ie a liead and so treacherous a heart that 
Sir Robert W'alpole called his name " Perfid\"" : that Lord Halifax 



1 74<J t" '7SO-] i-iRsr TOWN i:i.iariON". 63 

uscil to revile him as a kna\c aiul foul, and that he was so i<;iio- 
rant of this continent, that it was said of him, that he addressed his 
letters to the ' Island of New England.'" 

Thomas IloUis, the ii^eneroiis benefactor of Harvard Collcfrc, was 
an eminent and wealthy merchant of London ; of \ery exemplarv 
character, ami lil)eral in his political principles. Mr. Hollis died in 
1731. — ten vears before Mr. Wentworth was appointed (iovernor, 
and I know of no reason for supposing that the ii^overnor was per- 
sonallv acquainted with him. Mollis Hall at Camliridti^e. built and 
deilicated just before the rcNolution. was named ff)r this benefactor 
of the college. The name of the London merchant, and also of 
this hall. ha\e been alwa\s spelt as the name of the t(nvn of Hollis 
now is. 

There can be no doubt that the people of Hollis. one hundred 
years ago. well understood the character of the Duke of Newcastle, 
and also that of the w orthv London merchant, and it is ncjt strange 
that it should have been their choice that the name of the benefactor 
of Harvard College shoidd be commemorated in that of their town, 
rather than an\ of the mam names of the Duke of Newcastle, 
whether original, adopted or bestowed bv those who knew him as 
well as did Sir Robert W'alpole and Lord Halifax. 

^Vccordinglv. about the vear 177^. when change and rexolution 
were the order of the da\ . in all their other important interests and 
aflairs. a slight orthographical revolution, as appears by their town 
recf)rds. was for the first time initiated in the name of their town by 
changing the c in the last syllable into /. During the re\ olutionary 
\\ ar. and afterward to the end of the century, and in man\ instances 
later, the name was spelt in the records and other public documents 
in both \\ avs, according to the opinion or caprice ot the w riter. and 
it continued so to be spelt, as we ha\ e seen, as late as 1S15. But 
for the last fiftv vears. so far as I ha\ e know n. it has with great uni- 
formitv been spelt as it now is. Hollis. like that of the benefactor of 
Harvard College, and that orthography appears now to be perma- 
nently established both bv common usage and the will of the people, 
while Holies, the name of the Duke of Newcastle, has passed into 
merited oblivion. 



64 THE SECOND MEETIXG-HOl'.SE. [^74'^ to ^75*^- 

THE FIRST TOWN ELECTION. 

The iirst Town Election in Hollis, (as provided in the charter) . 
was called In' Col. Joseph Blanchard. April 2S. 1746. for the sole 
purpose of choosing officers for the new to\vn. At this meeting- the 
first town officers were chosen as follow s : 

Samuel CuMiNGS, jModc-rator James Stewaht, ' T'tli' " AI • 

Samuel CuMiNGS, Town Clerk Christopher Eovejo', , \ ' '"'^ " ""'" 

Samuel Cumixgs. \ Jonathhn Dankorth. ) ^, „, \--, . 

-Cenjamix Farley, ' Selectmen Benjamin Blanchard, ) '' \ie\vei^ 

Francis Worcester, ) Nicholas F'rench, ( ., ^, .^ . .^ 

Thomas Dinsmore, 1 ^VILLIAM Adams, \ "S^^'-^'-^- 

F'rancis Phelps, | Elias Smith, Pound Keeper, 
Nicholas French, J .Surveyors of llitcli'-vysELiAS Smith, Scaler ol Wcit^hts ;m(l ]\Ie:isures 

James McDaniels. " .Samuel Brow.n, .Se;iler of I,e;ithei 

Samuel P.\kker^ J 

Till': SECOND MEETING IIOl'SE. 

In the month of Alarch, 174^. as shown hv the Tax List, the 
taxal^le inhabitants of West Dnnstalile had increased to the numl)er 
of 77. Thev liad had an acceptable and po]:)nlar minister for near 
two years, and had begun to ha^■e a \cv\ painful sense of the small 
capacity of their first meeting house — '' 22 feet one way — 20 feet 
the other — 9 feet Studs — and one Glass Windo\v." This feeling 
in respect to the dimensions of their meeting-house first Ibund public 
expression in the doings of a ]5arish meeting held at the fn\st meet- 
ing-house Sept. 6, 174=;. while the inhabitants were still without a 
town or parish charter. At this meeting, as sho\yn by the record 
of it. it \\ as 'A^oted unanimousb' to Iniild a meeting-house ^o feet 
long — 44 feet wide — and 23 feet Posts in llight."' "Allso voted 
unanimously to sett the next mecting-housc on y*" Lott of Land v'' 
present house stands on. which was given for v' use." '' Allso \ot- 
ed y' John Bovnton, Benjamin Farley. Elias Smith, Stephen Harris. 
Thomas Dinsmore and Zedekiah Drury be a committee to take the 
whole care in carr^-ing on y"' work, and recei\'ing y'' money }' shall 
be subscribed for \'* use, and employ faithful men y* shall appear to 
furnish Timlier and other materials as shall lie wanted for said 
House." 

It will be observed that these doings of the inhabitants of West 
Dunstable, before its boimdaries were changed h\ the town charter 
of the next year, were entirely unanimous. 

The numl)er of names on the iirst Tax List in the town of Hollis 
in 1746 was but ^3. — 24 less than in West Dunstalile the year be- 
fore — a part of this last nimilier living on the east side of West 
Dimstable ha\ ing lieen set off bv the acts of incorporation to the 
new town of Dunstable, and the rest of them on the north side to 
the town of INIonson. 




OUiUllLia, j.fi; uiu.ii 



I ii;ST .^ii'.i: 1 1.\(- 1 1()( >i.. 

Mr 1 11 1 7»i 



174^ to 1750.] THK SKCOND MEETING-HOUSE. 65 

At the second town meeting in Ilollis, held May 20, 1746, 
" Voted unanimously to take on us the obligation to Mr. Emerson, 
as it now stands in the covenant for his yearly Salary so long as he 
remains our minister, and to raise £200, O.T., for his Salery the 
year ensuing." " Chose Jonathan Danforth and Benjamin P'arlcy to 
run y'' Line between Holies and Monson." "Also voted to peti- 
tion y" General Court of Massachusetts Bay for some Solders We 
being in Grutt Danger from y'^ enemy." "Also voted that the 
Book we have used for the Parish Records, be used for a Town 
Book." 

The third meeting of the town was called June 13, 1746, for the 
following purposes : " To see if the town will build a House for 
the Public worship of God." "To see if the town will Accept 
the Timber which is hewn and drawn together to build a House 
with, and chose a Committee to take charge of said Work." " To 
see if the Town will accept the acre of Land that was given the 
Parish to Sett the Meeting House on and for a Burying Place." 
" To see if the town will vote that the money due from Capt. Pow- 
ers shall be laid out in ammunition for a town Stock." " To see 
if the Town will provide a Pound and Stocks." 

At this meeting the Town voted as follows : 

I St, " To build a House for the Public Worship of God." 

2d, " To accept the Timber that was prepared for said use to 
build said House with." 

3d, "Chose Benjamin Farley, Benjamin Blanchard, and Capt. 
Powers a Committee to take care and see that said House is 
built." 

4th, •' To accept the Land that was given to the Parish to Sett the 
Meeting House on and for a Burying Ground." 

5th, "That the Money due from Capt. Powers, shall be laid out 
to buy Powder, Bullets and Flints for a Town Stock." 

6th, " To accept the old Pound for the present year and tliat the 
Selectmen provide Stocks." 

Itappears from the doingsof a Town Meeting held tlKsamc year, 
a few months later, that Josiah Conant had been employed ])y the 
Selectmen to make the Stocks for the town, and that his account for 
making them was then accepted. 

The Pillory for the confinement of the head and hands of the 
oflender. Stocks for his feet, and the Whipping Post with the cat 

o" fiific tails for his liack, were in common use with our ancestoi-s 

(4) 



66 IlIE SIX'OM) MKE'J'IXCJ-HOUSK. [174610 I7SO- 

of the last century, for the punishment of minor offences. A person, 
for instance, found guilty of profane swearing, for a first offence, 
was fined one Shilling — if not able to pa}', he was set in the town 
stocks for two hours ; for more than one profane oath at the same 
time, or for a second offence, he was set in the stocks for three 
hours. 

The lloUis Whipping Post, stanchng on the west side of the 
Hollis Common, was in practical use after the beginning of the 
present centin^y, and is still remembered by persons now Hying. 

After the meeting of the 13th of June, such progress was made 
with the new meeting-house, that a special town meeting was called 
on the 38th of the following July, at which it was " voted that v* 
Meeting House be raised on the 13th of August next (1746). 
"Also Voted that y*" Com'" provide Victuals and Drink for y*^ Peo- 
ple on Raising Day. and bring it to the Fraim at noon. If they 
Cant Get it among our Friends to Provide it Themselves." 

To the doings of the last two meetings there \vas a \cv\ earnest 
and persistent oppositic^i in respect to the location of the new 
meeting-house, and the building and raising it at that time, by a 
very considerable number of settlers then living in the west end of 
the town, most of them in tliat part of Hollis, some years afterwards 
set ofi" to the present t<:>wn of Brookline. Eight of these settlers 
had a written protest against the proceedings of these meetings en- 
tered upon the town records, setting forth their objections. After 
the meeting of the 2Sth of Juh , fixing the "'Raising Day" for the 
13th of August, thirteen of them united in a petition and complaint 
to the General Court of New Hampshire, dated August 5, 1746. 
stating their grie^■ance^. and pra\ ing for the "•Appointment of a 
Committee to view the situation — and to fix upon a place for the 
Meeting-House, and that the Raising of it might be postponed till 
this Committee could re])ort." 

This petition conceded that the proposed '■'■ location for the Meet- 
ing-House was just and reasonable for the Parish of West Dunsta- 
ble, as incorporated seven years before by the General Court of 
Massachusetts, but that it was unjust and unecjual for the town of 
Holies as it then was. lliat by the late Act incorporating the town, 
above three miles uff of the east end of the old parish were set to 
Dunstable bringing the east line of Holies within a mile and one 
half of the Meeting-House place. That the west line of Holies was 
near five miles from the Meeting-House jDlace. and some inhabitants 



i74<'i<> '75<^-] '"'""- ^i-»^'<''>''" Nn;i:riN(;-ii()i-sK. 67 

alreacK sc-tlK-d at tlic outside. That tlu- ixtilioiicrs with otlicrs 
had aj^plicd to the Selectmen of Holies to call another nicetin<^ 
to consider the injustice of this location, hut that their applica- 
tion had been refuseti. That if llie Meeting-House should i)e built 
at the place jirojiosed it would discourage settlements in the west end 
of the town, but that when further settlements should be made, the 
house would have to be pulled down, many chanj^es made in the 
Hi'^hways — thev loaded with j^reat changes. — and room left for 
much contention and disturbance." 

This Petition was signed by Stephen Ames. William Adams, 
Samuel Douglas. Isaac Farrar, James, Joseph and Randall McDan- 
iels. John and Jonathan Mclvin, Samuel Parker, Moses Proctor, 
James Whiting, and Jasher Wyman. It was presented to the Gen- 
eral Court bv Stephen Ames as agent of the Petitioners, read, con- 
sidered and dismissed by the House of, Representati\es on the nth 
of August, two days before "■ Raising Day." so that the ••Raising" 
was not interrupted or postponetl. 

Afterwards, while the work on the new meeting-house was in 
progress, at a special town meeting held on the 22(1 of Dec. 1746. 
the tow n 

"Voted to Raise two Pence per acre Lawt'ul Money avearon all 
the Land in the Town of Holies for five years for y* support of the 
Gospel, and v*" Arising charges of said town, and to Petition v* 
Generall Court for strength to Gather, and (jct v*" money of Non- 
Residents. And Allso Chose Samuel Cumings to prefer said Pe- 
tition, and any other that may be thought proper and beneficiall 
for v*" Tow n." 

l-2arl\ in the follow ing spring, Mr. Cumings, as agent tor the 
t(»w n. piesented to the General Court the following petition for the 
passage o\' the proposed law . This petition may interest some of 
us at the present dav. as clearly and forcibly setting forth the reasons 
that influenced the people of the town in asking for the law in 
question, autl also as showing the popular sentiment of the limes in 
respect to the justice and policy of taxing the propertV of non-resi- 
iletit landholders for the support of ministers and building meeting- 
houses. 



68 THE SECOXD MEETIXG-HOUSE. [1746 tO I75O. 

COPY OF THE PETITION'. 

"^1 To his Excellency Benning Went- 

I worth. Esq., Gov., &c.. The 

-r, • rx- TT , • '■ Hon'''^ his Majesty's Council & 

•-rrovn-iceot >,e\v Hampshire ," tt r -t. . . ^ 

I Mouse or Representatives m Lren- 

Assembly convened. March 3i\ 

J 1747- 

'• The Petition of Sam"' Cumings in Behalf of the Town of Holies, 
Humbly Sheweth, That the s"^ Town has Lately settled A Minis- 
ter and are now building a Meeting-House for the Publick Wor- 
ship of God there. 

■• That the settlers of s'' Town have but lately entered thereon, 
and altho a considerable progress in Agriculture has been made 
(the only way we have for our support) vet find these charges very 
burthensome. 

"That a considerable part of the best Lands in s'^ Town belong 
to non-resident propri"^ who make no Improvement. 

"• That by the arduous begining the settlement & heavy charges 
bv us alreadv paid has greatlv advanced their Lards and they are 
still rising in value Equal as the Resident propri'^ tho the charges 
hitherto and for the future must Lye on y- settlers only, unless we 
obtain the assistance of this Hon^" court." 

•• ^^'herefore vour Pef most humbly prays that y' Excellency and 
Hon" would take the Premises into consideration, and grant the 
Whole of the Lands in s'^ Township may be taxed annually for 
five years next coming two pence new tenor p. acre to be apply ed 
for the su Import of the minister and finishing y^ Meeting-House 
and by Law Enabling us to collect the same & y' Pet" as in Duty 
Bound shall prav &c. Samuel Cumixgs." 

This petition was favorably considered by the General Court, and 
on the following 14th of May. 1747. an Act was passed taxing all 
the lands in Hollis at two pence per acre for the support of the min- 
ister and finishing the meeting-house, but limiting the law to four 
vears. 

In the meanwhile the work on the new edifice went on. and such 
progress was aftenvards made with the enterprise, that in about two 
years after •• Raising Day," a plan of the •• Pew Ground," as it was 
called, was made by a Committee appointed by the town and ac- 
cepted by vote of a town meeting. The plan of this Pew Ground 
embraced a space on the lower floor next the v.-alls, wide enough 



1746 to 1750.] THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 69 

for a single range of pews on each of the four sides, and this space 
was apportioned into sites or ground for about 20 pews. At a town 
meeting on the 12th of September. 174S. this Pew Ground was dis- 
posed of bv vote of the town as follows : 

•• Voted that the highest in pay on Real Estate have the Pew 
Ground on their paving £200, Old Tenor, to be applied towards fin- 
ishing the Meeting-House and the Pew men are to take their Pews 
for Themselves and Wives, the man and his wife to be seated ac- 
cording to'their Pay." 

That is, as I interpret this record, the men who at that time 
paid the highest taxes on real estate were to have the luxurv* of own- 
ing and sitting in separate pews, the wife being indulged with the 
privilege of sitting in the same pew with her husband upon the con- 
dition that the purchasers of the pew ground should build the walls 
of their pews, and pay £200 Old Tenor towards the completion of the 
building. 

InDecember. 174S. this pew ground was disposed of bv lot — those 
entitled to do so drawing for choice. Down to this day the records 
of the to\\"n sho\v the amount of the premium paid for each pew. by 
whom it was paid, and the precise location of each pew in the 
meeting-house, "with the man and his wife seated in it according to 
pav on Real Estate.'" can be as readilv understood from this record, 
as from an ocular view. *• Mr. Enoch Hunt" drew the first choice, 
paid for it £14, O. T.. and chose the second pew at the right hand of 
the pulpit. Mr. Elias Smith drew the second choice, paid £14. O. 
T.. and chose the seeond pew at the left hand of the pulpit. •• Capt. 
Peter Powers," third choice, paid for it £13, O. T.. and chose the 
first pew on the left hand of the front door. Lt. Benjamin Farley, 
eighth choice, and took the third pew at the right hand of the east 
door, and paid for it £n. O. T. Dr. Samuel Cumings. thirteenth 
choice : paid for it £9. los., O. T.. and took the first pew at tlie left 
hand of the west door. And so of the others. 

The pulpit was not yet built : but at the annual To\vn Meeting 
in 1749 it was '* Voted to Bould the Pulpit and the Ministerial Pew 
and Stars as soon as the Bords wold do to work." It was not told 
how soon the "• Bords wold do to work." yet it appears that when 
that part of the joiners work was first done, it was not thought so 
good as it -should have been, as I find at the annual meeting in 1754 
the town •• \"oted that the Pew before the Pulpit be taken down, if 
there ma\ be a i;ood Hansom Pew for the town built, and a 



70 THE SliCOXD MliKTING-IUH'SE. [ 1 74^ tO I'J^O. 

convenient Deacons' seat and good Hansom stairs to go to the 
Pulpit." At the above annual meeting in i 749 it was put to vote 
''To see it' the Town would build two Porches to y" Meeting 
House, and it passed in the Negative." 

The question in respect to the building of j^orches to the meeting- 
house was many times discussed in the town meetings for the next 
twentv vears. But none were built till about the year 1772. when a 
small one was erected on the sf)uth side of the meeting house, for 
passing into the main building. One on the east side high and large 
enough tor galler\' stairs to the "Women's (iallcrw" and one on the 
west side for stairs to the "Men's (Taller\." with a bclfr\- and 
steeple. 

This ancient second church edilice of llollis. as originallv com- 
pleted, long ago was tlust, and has passed awav among the things 
that once were but ;ire not. All th;it was mortal of the worthy 
people who built ami worshipped in it is also dust, and for nearlv a 
centurv has reposed iii the humble clun'cli-\ard hard by. Yet from 
. the minutes and hints preserved by them in their town records it 
would not require the genius of a Cuvier or .\gassiz to reconstruct 
this ancient ediiice. both as to its interior and exterior, and to pre- 
sent in vivid perspective the old congregation of worshippers as it 
would have appeared to the eve of a looker-oii one hundred and 
twentv vears ago. 

The stumps of the sturdv forest trees that had grown <jn the com- 
mon before it, and in the burial ground behind, still stood firmly 
rooted in their native soil. The roads that led to it, freshlv cut. and 
little better than bridle paths, unfenced. except here and there ^vith 
logs or brushwood through the scattered and slump-co\ ei"ed clear- 
ings, wound their loneh' \\a\ through the dense, primeval forest. 

The building itself was a plain wooden structure, covered on its 
outside with S2)lit clapboards, unpainted. except its doors, \\-indows 
and water "•Troves," as vet withont porches, with a single outside 
door on each of its south, east and ^vest sides : with a suitable niuu- 
ber of horse blocks at convenient distances for the accommodation 
of such of the congregation as rode to meeting upon the side saddle 
or pillion, as well as of those who rode upon saddles with two 
stirrups. 

On the insitle, upon the floor below, around next to the four 
walls, was a single row of pews, in which, from .Sabbath to Sal)- 
bath were seated the })atriarchs and dignitaries of the town, the 
" highest in pay on real estate," with their wives and families. 



1746 to 1750.] TlIK SKCOM* MKK ri\<J-lIOLSK. • 7I 

A broad aisk- Icadinj^ from the south door to the pidpil and 
deacons' scat divided the remainder of the lower Hoor intf) the east 
and west sides, the east being the " men's side," and the west the 
•'women's side." This area was furnished with long seats for such as 
could not aflbrd or were not permitted to enjoy the luxury and dis- 
tinction of pews ; yet in making and arranging these seats, the com- 
mittee charged with their construction were directed by the town 
meeting to have them made and arranged '• according to pay. having 
regard to age." 

The galleries were also divided bet^veen the sexes in the same 
way with the lower floor - — the west gallery belonging to the 
sterner, the east to the gentler sex, with separate flights of stairs in 
the southwest and southeast corners leading to each of them, with 
tithing men above as well as below to note all graceless irreverence 
and indecorimi — especially in the youthful portion of the congre- 
gation. 

The pulpit was at the entl of the broad aisle, on the north side, 
next the wall, \vith a capacious souiuling board raised over it so high 
that in after years it was ordered by the town to be placed lower, if 
•' those who wished for the change would pay the expense of mak- 
ing it." B\ the side of the pulpit, and leading into it. was a flight of 
•' Hansom stairs," such being the kind voted by the town. Imme- 
diately in front of the pulpit was the deacons' seat, where, in ac- 
cordance with the usages and established proprieties of those times. 
Deacons Bovnton, Cumings, Patch and Worcester, in their small 
clothes, long hose, knee and shoe buckles, took their seats as models 
of gravity and decorum to all the lay members of the congregation. 

" Cleanliness "U-'as said very long- ago to be next to Godliness'' 
and cleanliness in respect to the care of their meeting-house was 
cultivated by our worthy forefathers as diligently as if it ranked 
among the Christian graces. At each annual tow^n meeting a 
special officer was chosen to take care of the meeting-house for the 
coming 3 ear. The following extract from the town records of 1773 
furnishes an example f)f these appointments, and of the tluties ex- 
pected to be perfcnmed by that oflker : ■• Edward Carter, chosen 
to take care of y*" meeting-house & he is to keep it well swept and 
clean : To open and shut the Doors in Good season, and shovell 
the snow from the Doors, and shovell Paths from the Doors to the 
Horse Blocks, and clean the Horse Blocks well. He is to have 
eighteen shillings if done to the acceptance of the Town, — if not, to 
have Nothing." 



^2 THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. [^74^ ^'^ ^75<^- 

Thls picture of this ancient edifice cannot be truthfully em- 
bellished with stair or floor carpets, or with wood or coal stoves or 
furnaces, or with any other modern invention for warming churches 
in winter. The only implement or convenience for a like purpose, 
then in use in country meeting-houses, was the little portable, tin foot 
stove with its basin for coals and ashes, which the youthful members 
of the congregation were educated to carry to meeting in their 
hands for the use and comfort of their parents and seniors. Yet 
this was an indulgence that popular sentiment did not seem to favor, 
as is evident from a vote of the town, at the March meeting in 
1776, of which a record was made in the following words : "Voted 
that all Stoves that shall be left in the Meeting-House shall be for- 
feited to the Saxton Mr. John Atv/ell & he may sell them if the 
owner shall refuse to pay i-3 a Pistareen for the first oftence & Doble 
that sum for the second oftence, and the said Atwell shall return the 
overplus after he is paid for his trouble for the use of the Poor of the 
Parish." 

Nor are we able to garnish our picture with an organ, melodeon, 
bass viol, or with duets, trios or quartettes, or with any choir of 
trained vocal singers. All these helps and accompaniments of mod- 
ern congregational worship were then unknown. Yet in the public 
devotional exercises of that day the use of hymns and spiritual songs 
was by no means omitted or neglected, and the singing was doubt- 
less cjuite as solemn as other parts of the religious services either of 
those times or the present. When a psalm was selected from Stern- 
hold and Hopkins, or a hymn from Dr. Watts, it was slowly read by 
the minister or senior deacon, one or at most two lines at a time, 
and sung by the congregation as read from the pulpit or Deacons' 
seat. When the reader had read from the book, '' Hark frotn 
the tombs a doleful sound" or, " My drowsy poivers why sleep ye 
so .?" he was expected to take a rest till the congregation had sung 
those lines before reading the next. The congregation in this way 
would be quite sure to have some conception of the ideas intended 
to be conveyed by the words of the hymn, a matter quite certain 
not to be true in the ordinary opera performances of the modern 
quartette. 

The earliest reference to be found to a choir of singers in the 
town records is in the doings of the annual town meeting in 1767. 
The town then " Voted that those Persons that had taken pains to 
instruct themselves in singing may have the two fore seats below on 



174610 I 75°-] '"'"■' SECOND MEETING-IIOUSE. 73 

the Men's Side." The next notice we find of singing and singers is 
in the record of the annual meeting in 1784. It was then '■'■ Voted 
That I 2 Feet of tlie hind Body Seats below next the broad Aisle be 
appropriated to the Use of Singers on condition that a certain num- 
ber of them will give the Glass necessary to repair the windows." 
Lastly, in the year 17SS, it was " Voted That the Ground now occu- 
pied In" singers shall not be appropriated to any other use, and that 
the singers may be allowed to Sing once a Day Without Reading." 
This was a final and decisive triumph on the part of the choir. 
Thenceforth it not only secured toleration from the town meeting, 
but approved recognition as a fitting adjunct and help to public wor- 
ship, and also a place to sit and stand in the church without the 
condition of paying for it by mending broken windows. At length, 
and before the end of the century, the choir was promoted to con- 
spicuous seats in the front gallery where it might sing its pajans of 
victory, and its songs of devotion and praise might be heard till 
this venerable second meeting-house, having stood for nearly sixty 
years, at last fell before the hand of time and modern innovation, 
and the church edifice now standing was erected upon the same hal- 
lowed sfround. 



74 I'flE ONE PINE HILL CONTROVERSY. 



CHAP T E R V. 

1746 to 1773. THE ONE PINE HILL CONTROVERSY. — ANNEXA- 
TION OF ONE PINE HILL TO HOLLIS. SECOND BORDER CON- 
TROVERSY. DISPUTE ABOUT BUILDING THE NASHUA RIVER 

BRIDGE. COMPROMISE. 

The boundaries of the towns into which the parish of West Dun- 
stable was divided do not appear to have been satisfactory to any 
part of its early settlers. The boundary line between HolHs and 
the new town of Dunstable, as established along Flint's brook and 
pond and Muddy brook, soon became the occasion of a long, per- 
sistent and l)itter controvers}-. The story of this controversy may 
be l)est told h\ extracts from the original dcjcumcnts relating to 
it still to be found in the office of the Secretary of State at Con- 
cord. Before, and at the time of these Acts of incorporation into 
towns, there was a settlement of very worthy people, consisting of 
about fifteen families, near the east side of West Dunstable, and east 
of the new town line, known as " One Pine Hill." This settle- 
ment had constituted an important part of the religious society 
of West Dunstable. The settlers there had aided in the settlement 
and support of Mr. Emerson, in the building of the new meeting- 
house, in fixing the site of it and their burial ground, and in the 
laying out and making the public loads. In this settlement, among 
other worthv citizens, were William Ciunings anil Thomas Patch, 
two of the deacons in the church of West Dunstable ; also the 
brothers David and vSamuel Ilobart. the first distinguished for his 
gallantry as the colonel of a New Hampshire regiment at the bat- 
tle of Bennington, and the latter as the first register of deeds of the 
county of Hillsborough, and a member of the New Plampshire 
Committee of Safet\' in the war of the Revolution. iMuch to their 
vexation and disappointment, and also to the chagrin ot the peo- 
ple in Hollis, these settlers on One Pine Hill, found themselves on 



1746101763-] I'llH flM-; I'IMC nil. I. CON rROVERSV. 75 

the wronrj side ol' the town line aiul cut otl" from their tbnuer civil. 
social, and church relations with the settlers of West Dunstable. 
The only nieetinji^-house in Dunstable, originally built for the ac- 
commodation of the settlers south of the new province line, as well 
as of those north (^f it. was from seven to eight miles distant from 
the settlers on One Pine Hill, while that in Ilollis was less than 
half that distance. What \vas a matter to them of still more im- 
portance, the religious society in Ilollis was well united in their 
popular and acceptable minister whose orthodoxy was without taint, 
while the societv in Dunstable was distracted with bitter, chronic 
dissensions, mainlv on account of the alleged heresy of their pastor, 
the Rev. William BinI, who was charged with being a New Light 
and follower of Rev. George Whiteficid. 

In these troubles of their neighbors, and late fellow parishioners, 
it was verv natural that the kindly sympathies of the good people of 
H oil is should have been strongly with the settlers at One Pine PI ill. 
The first reference we find in this matter in the Hollis records is in 
the proceedings of a town meeting. Oct. 26, 1747^ 'it which the 
town '"Voted to request of Dunstable the People of One Pine Hill 
with their Lands to be set off to Hollis, and chose Capt. Peter 
Powers. Thomas Dinsmore and Samuel Cumings to assist in that 
affair, and Rais Bounds between the Towns." It is very evident 
from the sequel of events that this very civil request of the people 
of. Hollis was not hospitablv entertained by their neighbors of 
Dunstal)le. 

No further reference to tliis subject is to l)e fountl in tlic Hollis 
recorilstill the annual town meeting in 1756. when the town *'\\)ted 
to jo\ n with the One Pine Hill People, so called to get them set 
ofl' from Dunstable to be annexed to Holies." Again in i759i the 
town ■• \oted £^0 O. T. for the assistance of the People on tlie west- 
erlv side of Dunsta1)le in their Petition to be annexed to Holies;" 
and lastlv. at the March Meeting in 1764. "• Voted to give the Peo- 
ple of One Pine Hill, so called, £200 O. T. towards expenses in 
Getting ort' from Dunstable." The foregoing votes sufficiently in- 
dicate the sentiments and wishes of the people of Hollis. 

We again recur to the documents already referred to, pertaining 
to this controversv, to be found at Concord. It will be seen from 
these papers that the people of One Pine Hill, aided more or less by 
their helpful allies in Hollis. were in almost constant rebellion 
asrainst the ecclesiastical and civil authorities of their own town, for 



76 THE ONE PINE IIILI, CON'I ROVERS^•. [1746101763. 

the seventeen years from 1746 101763. These original documents 
will still be found interesting to many, not only as containing impor- 
tant and unique matter of local town history, but also as showing the 
manner and spirit in which controversies of this sort were then con- 
ducted. They set forth very fully the questions in dispute, the ar- 
guments on eacli side, and somewhat of the evidence. To such as 
are curious in such matters, these papers may also be fvu'ther inter- 
esting as affording an insight into the temper that animated the 
parties to this controversy and the sentiments which the good people 
of Dunstable, Hollis and One Pine Hill mutually entertained of the 
motives, conduct and Christian character of each other. 

It appears from the town records of Dunstable, that the settlers 
on One Pine Hill, very soon after they found themselves, against 
their wishes, inhabitants of that town, petitioned the people of 
Dunstable for their consent to be set off' to Hollis. This petition 
and all other amicable efforts on the part of the people of one Pine 
Hill were refused by the Dunstable town meetings. 

The oldest of the documents above referred to, as found in the 
office of the Secretary of State at Concord, is a petition to the Gov- 
ernor and Council in the spring of 1756, signed by fifteen of the 
settlers on the west side of Dunstable, and the Selectmen of Hollis. 
In this Petition these signers from Dunstable say to the Governor 
and Council, 

•^ That your Petitioners live in the west side of Dunstable and 
so far from the Meeting-House, that it is almost empossable for 
us to attend the Publick Worship of God there, for some of us live 
7 1-3 miles and the nearest 5 1-3 miles from the Meeting-House so 
that we Can't and Don't go to IVIeeting there * » * * tor the\- 
have set their Meeting-House to accommodate them Selves, and 
seem not in the least to Regard us only to get our Money. Our 
Difficulties are so exceeding great that make us Dispair of having 
any comfortable reviving Gospel Priviledges unless we can obtain 
the aid of your Excellency and Honnors." 

•'Wherefore your Petitioners pray that \our Excellenc\ and 
Honnors would so far Compassionate our Circumstances as to Re- 
lieve us by setting us with our Land to Holies to which we once 
belonged and helped settei our Minister and now^ go to attend the 
Publick Worship of God. * * The furthest of us from Holies is 
not more than 31-2 or 4 miles, and the bigest part about 2 1-2 or 
3 miles to which we can go with some degree of comfort. W'e 



1746101763-] Till-: ONR PINF. Mil, I. CONTROVKRSY. 77 

therefore pray * * tliat you would he pleased to annex us to 
Holies with about 2500 acres of Land which wee liave described in 
a Plan, which will greatly relieve us, * * and help us to a Com- 
fortable Injoyment of Gospel Pri\ iledges. * * And as in Dul\ 
Bound, &c. Sijrned : 

John Willoi;oiiiiv Nicholas Voungman David IIohart 

Klnatiian BLoon Geksiiom IIobaut Neiibmiah Woods 

John PiiELrs Jonathan IIoiiart William Cumings 

John Mooak Amos Phillips Joseph Farley 

Benjamin Parkek, Samuel IIobart Anna Patch 

Samuel Cumings ] 

Samuel Goodhue )■ Selectmen of Holies." 

Enoch Noyes J 

Upon beiiiij^ notified of this Petition, the people of Dunstable 
promptly met in town meeting and " Voted not to set otl' the land 
and inhabitants of One Pine Hill to Holies " and appointed Col. 
Joseph Blanchard, with two others, a committee to oppose the pe- 
tition. Col. Blanchard at the time was a member of the N. H. 
Council, and made the answer to the Petition on the part of Dun- 
stable. In this answer he stated that " About 1736, (9?) the old 
town of Dunstable was divided into two parishes. That what was 
then Holies & Monson with a part of Dunstable and Merrymac was 
the West parish and contained about 70,000 acres." That they had 
an annual tax of 2d. per acre for four years on the Land of non- 
residents to build a meeting-house and suppoit a minister, and an 
after tax of about the same amount. More than was needed for it, 
but they disposed of it all or divided it. That in 1741 the Province 
Line was run leaving about 2-3 of the Inhabitants and Estates of 
the East Parish in Massachusetts. * * 

■'• On examination we find that Holies * * is about eight miles 
in length East and West and about four and a half miles North and 
South * * settled at each end. Some time after their Incorporation 
Holies set up a Meeting-House with a part of the money we and 
others paid for that use, and sett it about a mile and a half from their 
East line Regardless of the complaints of the Inhabitants on the 
Westerly part, so that many of them are eight miles^from their 
meeting, as they must travil, much further than any in Dunstable are 
from our meeting-house. 

" Wee are sencible that this vexatious Petition is stirred up and 
encouraged by Holies purely to prevent Justice to their Western In- 
habitants which they foresee will obtain unless they can Cloak it by 
Ruinine Dunstable. 



78 tup: one pine iiii.i. contkoversv. [1746101763. 



•• What Genius gave them fro// f to mutter out this Motley Petition 
it is Difficuh to guess. 

•'The Pretentions of ilolles and the Pet'^ arc totally Groundless 

Wherefore we pray that their Petition may be dismissed. 

Sisrncd JOSEPH Blancuakd. 1 

Zacciikus Lovewei.l, ; Agts for Dunstahk'. 
Joseph French J 

1 do not Hnd in the rect)rds at Concord how or when the ah()\e 
petition was disposed of. It is evident however that it was not 
granted. It was said in the answer of Dunstable to a like petition 
a few years later, that when it was found that Dunstable would 
answer it, the petitioners were afraid or ashamed to appear in its 
defence. In the fall of 1760 the settlers at One Pine Hill again pe- 
titioned Dunstable tor permission to lie set ofi" to Ilollis. at this 
time oflering to pay to Dunstable £1500, O. T., for the privilege. 
A town meeting was called in Dunstable to consider this otler. 
which was prompth' rejected, the town \(>ting at tiie same time 
•• not to change their jMeeting-House Place." 

After this last defeat o})en hostilities were suspendeti till the 
spring of 1763, when the contest was renewed and a second peti- 
tion presented to the (General Court bv Col. Samuel Plobart as at- 
torney for the settlers at One Pine Hill. 

In this petition Col. Hobart says that ••about the \eai' 1747 ( •" ) • 
(1746). a Conimittee of five, two of them from Dunstable, was ap- 
ijointed bv the Governor &c.. to view the Lands about Merrymac 
River to see in what manner it was Best to Bound them in the In- 
corporations. * * that this Cf)mmittee went no Farther Westward 
than the Old To\vn of Dunstable. That a Com'" came down from 
Holies, and desired this Com'"" to g(j and view the Situation at 
Holies and One Pine Hill, and urged it hard. But the Com"" could 
not be prevailed on to go any fmlher that wa} . (the opj^osition we 
judge being made by Dunstable). * * vSoon after Dunstable was 
Incorporated they got into Partys about .Settling Mr. I>ird. Each 
Party Courted Pine Hill's Assistance, ]:)romising to vote them ofl 
to Holies as soon as the matter was settled : and so Pine PI ill was 
fed with Si/g-ar Plums for a number of years, till at length Dimsta- 
ble cast ofl" the mask and now appears in their True Colours. * * 
* * Under the Government of Massachusetts we belonged to 
Holies, and helpt Build a large Meeting-House and it was set to 



1746101763-] IIIK ONE PINK IlILI. i:ONTRO\KH.SV. 79 

iicconimodale us. and liclpt settle a minister not in the least Doubt- 
ing but wc should always belong tliere." * * 

"We have ever since attencled the Public \\ Oiship of God at 
Holies and paid oui" l\ixes to the Minister there, tho. in the mean 
time we have been called on to pay Ministerial Rates with Dunsta- 
l)le in full proportion, except some trifling abatement they made us 
to keep us quiet. We know of no other Real objection that Dun- 
stable has to our going ofV, but reducing them to too small a num- 
ber to maintain the Gospel. But if their Inclinations can be judged 
by their practice it can't be tho't that they have any inclination to 
settle a minister * * Dunstable as it lyes noAv consists of about 
100 Families * * All we ask to be set ofl' is but about twelve. * 
* So that their opposition must arise from some other quarter to 
keep us as whips to drive out every minister that comes among 
them, for ihev are always divided and which side we take must 
carry the Da} ." 

The Selectmen of Dunstable, on being notilied of this petition, at 
once called a town meeting which voted to continue their defence, 
and appointed a committee of three to answer the petition. 

This answer begun with the assertion that this '' Complaint of the 
People of One Pine Hill was groundless and u7ircasonablc. * * 
As to Dunstable Meeting-House which Petitioners complain of as 
being at so great a distance from them, it was owing to themselves 
— for manv of them \oted to have it where it is — and none of them 
against it. * * That they so acted and voted for fear it might be 
movcil to a place more just and equal and so they be prevented from 
being set otVto Holies. * * As in Times past so they arc now 
stired up by some Holies People to bring this petition in order to 
uphold the unjust Proceedings of Holies in setting their meeting- 
house where it is. * * And now Holies are endeavoring to have 
the south part of Monson anexed to them, and should that be don 
and also the Westerly half of Dunstable then their meeting-house 
where it now is will be aboute right. So could it now be obtained 
to breake up and ruin two Towns it may hereafter be something of 
a cover to hide the inicjuity of Holies and help the private interests of 
some mercenary persons, but can't pos.sably promote the Public 
Good nor help the Interest of these Towns." 

The case was argued on both sides, and the evidence and argu- 
ments convinced the General Court that One Pine Hill with its 
Inhabitants ought no longer to remain a part of Dunstable. Ac- 
cordingly, on the 13th of December. 1763. an act was passed. 



8o THE ONE PINE HILL CONTROVERSY. [1746101763. 

entitled, " An Act Annexing One Pine Hill to Holies." This act 
was prefaced by a preamble in which it was stated ''That sundry 
inhabitants of Dunstable had petitioned the General Assembly, 
stating that they were more conveniently situated to belong to 
Holies than to Dunstable — That Dunstable is large, rich and able 
to spare them — which reasons and the arguments and objections 
having been duly weighed, and it appearing reasonable to grant the 
Petition. * * Therefore be it enacted, &c." 

Then follows a description of the part of Dunstable to be annexed 
to Hollis, in accordance with a survey and plan made by Samuel 
Cumings, the surveyor for Hollis and now at Concord. In running 
this new east line of the town this survey begun at the Pine tree 
standing on the hill called One Pine Hill, thence south 13 1-2°, west 
373 rods to Nashua river. The line was then run northerly, begin- 
ning again at the same Pine tree, one mile and 335 rods — thence 
westwardly one mile and 23 rods to the northeast corner of Hollis 
as chartered in 1746 — thus taking from Dunstable all that part of 
Hollis as it now is, east of Flint's l)rook and pond and Muddy 
brook. 

This once famous pine tree, thus made to mark the boundary of 
the belligerent towns, and which gave its name to One Pine Hill, is 
now no more. It is said to have been a tall, straight pitch pine, near 
a hundred feet high, with no other tree of its species near it, stand- " 
ing solitary and alone on the summit of the hill. In early times, be- 
ing conspicuous in all directions for a long distance, it served as a 
beacon to mark a place of rendezvous for backwoodsmen and deer- 
hunters, whose names in scores were cut in its bark, from its roots 
many feet upward. 

Thus at last ended by conquest the war between Dunstable and 
One Pine Hill and its ever faithful allies of Hollis, a war which had 
lasted, with varied fortune, nearly twice as long as the siege of Troy 
— more than twice as long as our war of the Revolution, and, sad 
to tell, no Homer has yet sung its heroes — no Marshall told its 
history. , 

SECOND BORDER TROUBLE WITH DUNSTABLE, NASHUA RIVER 
BRIDGE, COMPROMISE. 

A second border trouble, in respect to the boundary between 
Hollis and Dunstable, began soon after the conquest of One Pine 
Plill. This controversy grew out of a question in respect to the 
support of an expensive bridge across the Nashua river, in the 



1746 to 1763.] SKCOND BOKDRK CONTROVKRSV. 81 

south-east part of llollis, near the place, in the lloUis Records at 
first called " Lawrence's Mills," afterwards "Jaquith's," antl in our 
times known as " Runnell's Mills." A bridge at this place was very 
necessary to the people of llollis, being on their main road to mar- 
ket ; but much less needed by Dunstable. So indispcnsal)lc was 
this bridge to llollis, that in 174O' ^s we have seen, provision was 
made for building it out of the "■ non-resident tax of 2d. per acre " 
granted by the parish charter for the support of the ministry. ]Jut 
that tax being lost, with the parish charter, I do not find sufficient 
evidence that any bridge was built at that place till many years after 
the charter of llollis and Dimstablc as towns. These charters, as 
has been seen, made the Nashua river from the Province line to 
Flint's Brook the lioundary of the two towns ; the south line of Dun- 
stable beginning at Merrimack river, and ruiming on the Province 
line *'/o" the Nashua, and the soutli line of llollis. beginning "a/'' 
the Nashua, and running wcstwartlly on the Province line six miles 
and ninety-six rods. A New Hampshire court in these times would 
have probably held that this charter descriptive of this boundary 
would have divided the river equally between the two towns, leaving 
the town line in the middle or ^/i! read of the stream, instead of on its 
banks, and each town under equal obligation to build the bridge. 
But we shall see by and by that the town meetings in Mollis and 
Dunstable did not take this view of the law. 

In the early Hollis records there are many references to this 
bridge,, and to the troubles in respect to it. The first of these is 
found in the record of the March meeting, in 1751 when the town 
voted to help build a bridge "across Nashua river near Dea. Cum- 
ings." From tliis vote it is evident that the bridge had not been 
then built, and that Dunstable was expected to help build it. 

At the annual meeting in 1756, Hollis " chose Capt. Peter Pow- 
ers, Samuel Cumings and Benjamin Abbott a Com''''^ to see if Dun- 
stable will joyn with Holies to bould a Bridge over Nashua river in 
some convenant Place where tlie Road is laid out from Holies to 
Dunstable." It seems that Dunstable did not accept tliis invitation 
of the Hollis committee, for it is found that a special town meeting 
in Hollis, in 1760, chose a "committee to Petition the General] 
Court for a Lottery to Bould a Bridge over Nashua river if they 
think fit." But the "Gencrall" Court did not " think fit" to grant a 
Lottery, as it appears that at the annual meeting in 1761, the town 

without calling on Dunstable for help " Voted to have a Bridge 
(6) 



82 SECOND BORDER CONTROVERSY. [1746101763. 

built over Nashua ri\cr near Lawrence's Mills." aud chose a com- 
mittee to obtain subscriptions for it. The nevt year, 1762, the town 
" Voted to raise AJouev to pa\- for the I>uil(lin<T of the Bridge over 
Nashua river the Money to be reduklcd out of the cost of the 
Bridge that was subscribed out of town." i^'rom this vote it is evi- 
dent that as early as 1762 a bridge had been built across the Nashua 
river mainly, if nc^t wholly, by Hollis. In May, 1765, at a special 
town meeting, thetowii •• Voted to Rebuild or Repair the Bridge 
over Nashua river, and that the £Soo voted at the March Meeting 
for Making and Mending the Roads be laid out in Building and Re- 
pairing the Bridge." From the above vote I infer that the bridge 
built in 1762 was either washed awav wliolh in the spring of 1765, 
or so much injured as to need costlv repairs. Though, in the lan- 
guage of the law. ••often requested." the toAyn of Dun.stable, as it 
seems, had given no aid in sup]iorting this ])ritlge. and the question 
of the legal liability of that town to aid in it was allowed to sleep 
till the annual meeting in Hollis in March. 1772. At that meeting. 
in pursuance of an article in the warrant, the town ''Voted to ap- 
point a committee to ask for and recover of Dunstable a share of 
the Cost of Building and Repairing the Bridge across Nashua 
River near Jacjuith's Mills with power to prosecute if necessary." 

Tiiisrequest of the people of Hollis, upon being submitted by the 
committee to a town meeting in Dunstable, in the month of Jime 
follovk ing, was curtl}' rejected, and it was '•'• Voted that Dunstable 
would not do anvtliing towards building a bridge o\ er Nashua 
river." 

But it fortunately so happened thai not far from this time, the 
Mills before known as "Lawrence's Mills." had become the ])rop- 
erty of Ebenezer Jaquith. This Mr. Jatiuith .nnd Ensign Daniel 
Merrill lived in the bend of Nashua river on the Dunstable side, 
their two farms containing about ^oo acres, and comprising all the 
land in this bend. These men were nearer to the meeting-house 
in Hollis tbali to that in Dunstable, and like the saintlvand sensible 
settlers on One Pine Llill. wished to be annexed to rL)llis and were 
willing to p-d\ something for the privilege. VV'ith these new facts 
in view, and the long and costly contest for the conquest of One 
Pine Hill not yet forgotten, a special town meeting was called in 
Hollis in December, 1772, at which it was "Voted that whereas, 
there is a dispute with respect to the Bridge over Nashua river be- 
tween Holies and Dunstable, and whereas Messrs. Merrill and Ja- 



1746 to 1763.] SECOND UORDKR CONTROVERSY. 83 

quith live more convenient to Holies than Dmistable, and arc wil- 
ling to pay something handsome towards the Building of said 
Bridge, and also considering the expense of Suits at Law in the 
Premises — now in order to an amicable settlement of the matter, 
and for the Preservation and Cultivation of IIarmon\ between said 
Towns — Voted to accept said Families with their Lands, Provided 
Dunstable shall lay them off' to us and assist in an amicable man- 
ner to get them incorporated with us. Also Voted that Samuel 
Hobart, Dea. Noyes and William Nevins be a Committee to treat 
with Dunstable on Bridge Affairs." The Hollis Committee soon 
communicated these amicable terms of peace to the Selectmen of 
Dunstable, who upon their receipt, summoned a town meeting of 
their constituents, by whom these neighborly overtures were dis- 
dainfully rejected and the meeting "■*■ Voted that the people of Dun- 
stable would not pay anything towards the Building of the Bridge, 
nor would they consent to annex anv more Land to Holies." 

In the meanwhile the legal advisers of Hollis, '• learned in llie 
law," upon the examination of the charters of the two towns, had 
expressed the opinion that Nashua river, where it flowed between 
Hollis and Dunstable, was not in any part in either town, and that 
neither town was under any obligation to build a bridge across it. 
This opinion in respect to the law with the proposed remedy is set 
forth in the following preamble and resolution, adopted at a town 
meeting of Hollis, Jan. 20, 1773^ called to consider the report of 
their Peace Ambassadors to Dunstable. 

'' Whereas it appears by the charters of Dunstable and Holies, 
that Nashua River is not in either town — That it is highly necessary 
that a Bridge be erected over said River, but that neither Town 
is obliged by Law to make or maintain the same — and Dunstable 
manifesting an unwillingness to do anything respecting the Building 
of a Bridge — therefore, voted that William Nevins be agent of the 
Town to Petition the Governor and Council and General Assemblv 
that Dunstable and Holies mav be connected so that a liridge nia\ 
be built over said River." 

Again at the annual town meeting in Hollis. in 1773, Col. Jt)hn 
Hale, William Nevins and Ensign Stephen Ames were chosen to 
represent the matter in respect to the bridge, to the Governor and 
Council. 

This proposal to appeal to the General Court, or Governor and 
Council, very soon had the effect to render the people of Dunstable 



84 SECOND BORDER CONTROVERSY. [1746101763. 

more placable, and more ready to accept the treaty of- peace 
offered by Hollis the year before. The choice of evils now pre- 
sented was another trial of their border troubles before the General 
Court or the acceptance of the proposed compromise, and it is 
manifest from the doings of a town meeting in Hollis on the ensuing 
i8th of March, that Dunstable had voted to submit to the least of the 
two evils. At this meeting Hollis voted 

" To extend the easterly line of Holies so far east as to include 
Messrs.' Merrill and Jaquith with their Improvements, provided it 
shall be done without expense to the Town, and that Dea. Boynton, 
Reuben Dow and Samuel Cumings be a committee to agree with 
Dunstable in respect to Boundaries." 

At a town meeting on the following 12th of April this committee 
made report as follows : 

"We have met the Dunstable committee and have mutually 
ao-reed that the Easterlv Line of Holies shall be extended Eastward- 
ly to the following Bounds : To Begin at a Stake and Stones 
fifteen Rods below Buck Meadow Falls, at the River, which is Mr. 
Jaquith's northerly corner ; Thence running southerly in a straight 
line to a Pine tree on the River Bank which is Mr. Jaquith's south- 
westerly corner. April 8, i773-" 

This report was accepted by the town, and afterwards, in the 
month of May, 1773, at the joint request of Hollis and Dunstable, 
the General Court passed an act establishing the boundary line be- 
tween the two towns as so agreed upon, where it has remained un- 
disturbed from that day to this. These terms of settlement, though 
at first not willingly accepted by Dunstable, were exceedingly favor- 
able to that town, and ought to have been ample satisfaction for the 
loss of One Pine Hill. It is true that Dunstable came out of the 
controversy short of 500 acres of territory, but in return for this loss, 
that town was relieved from the burden of aiding in maintaining 
this bridge in all future time ; a charge that has already cost Hollis 
much more than the value of all the land so annexed. 



HISTORY OF MONSON. 85 



CHAPTER VI. 

HISTORY OK MONSON. TOWN OFFICERS. EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN 

PREACHING AND BUILD A MEETING-HOUSE, ETC. REPEAL OF 

CHARTER. THE MILE SLIP. CHARTERS OF RABY, WILTON, 

MASON AND DUXBURY. MILFORD. I 746 TO I 794. 

The ancient, now extinct town of Monson, incorporated April i, 
1746, was bounded, as we have seen, on the north by the Souhegan 
river, and south by Ilollis. Its corporate existence histed for twen- 
ty-four years, during which time it regularly held its annual town 
meetings, elected its moderators, town clerks, selectmen, tithingmen, 
hogreeves, deerkeepers and other town officers, but I am pained to 
say that I find no evidence that it ever had a school, school house, 
meeting-house or a "learned orthodox minister," or a minister not 
orthodox. The only public structure ever owned by the town was 
a pound, built for the confinement of disorderly cattle. Its first 
town mcetmg was held May i, 1746, under the direction of Col. 
Joseph Blanchard, as provided in the cliarter, Col. Blanchard being 
moderator. At this meeting town officers were chosen as follows : 

Robert Colburn, Town Clerk Samuel Lee.man, Surveyor of Highways 

Benjamin Hopkins "1 Abraham Leeman, Hogrceve 

Robert Colburn > SL-lcctinei> John Burns J 

William Nevins J James Wheeler j ^'=°" Viewers 
Thomas Nkvins, Constable 

At this meeting the town voted to build a pound, and also "to 
buy a suteable Book to Record Votes in, and other things as the 
town shall see meet." 

During the twenty-four and one-half years of the corporate exist- 
ence of Monson, I find from the record of votes kept in this " sute- 
able Book," that the persons named in the following lists were chosen 
at the annual town meetings to the respective offices of moderator, 
town clerk and selectmen, the number of times set opposite their 
names. Moderator^ — William Nevins, twelve times ; Benjamin 



86 HISTORY OK MONSON. [^74*^ tO 1770. 

Hopkins, seven times ; Robert Colburn and Benjamin Kenrick, 
twice each ; Nathan Hntchinson, once. Toxvn Clerk — Robert 
Colburn, thirteen times ; Benjamin Kenrick, nine times ; Archelaus 
Towne, three times. Selcchncfi — Robert Colljurn, fifteen times ; 
William Nevins, fourteen times ; Benjamin Hopkins and Benjamin 
Kenrick, ten times each ; Nathan Hutchinson, six times ; Josiah' 
Crosby, four times ; John Brown and Archelaus Towne, three times 
each ; Daniel Kenrick and Samuel Leeman, twice each ; Thomas 
Burns, Benjamin Farley, Joseph Gould, William Jones, Thomas 
Nevins and Jonathan Taylor, once each. 

. At the time Monson was chartered, the French and Indian W^ar, 
(begun in 1744,) was still raging. A petition dated May 13, 1747, 
presented by the inhabitants of Monson to the New Hampshire 
General Court for soldiers for a guard, shows the extent and condi- 
tion of the settlement at that time. This petition has fourteen names 
appended to it, probably those of all the householders then in the 
town. In this petition they say : 

" That the town has just begim to settle, and but about fifteen 
families there — That they are one of the FrontierTowns West of the 
Merrimack River and the most northerly one already incorporated, 
lying between Holies and the new Plantation called Souhegan West. 
Could we be assisted by soldiers in such competent numbers as 
might enable us to Defend our Selves, we shall chcarfully endeavor 
to stay there by which we shall serve as a Barrier in part to Holies, 
Merrimack and Dimstable. That last year we were Favored by 
Soldiers from the Massachusetts that prevented our Drawing ofl'." * * 

In answer to this petition, and one similar to it from Souhegan 
West, (now Amherst) the General Court gave orders for the raising 
of "fifteen good efiective men to scout and guard Souhegan W^est and 
Monson till the 33d of the following October." 

A petition of the selectmen of Monson to the General Court, six 
years later, dated April 25, 1753, asking that the inhabitants might 
be relieved from the payment of Province taxes, tells the story of the 
sad financial condition of the settlers at that time. In this petition 
the selectmen tell the General Court that there were then in Monson, 

"But thirty-six Poles in the whole, severall of them transiently 
hired for a short space to Labor, * * without any Estate. But 
twenty-one Houses, chiefly small cottages only, for a present shel- 
ter, the charge of Building yet to come on. That they are all plain 
men Dwelling in these Tents ; Husbandry their employment, their 



1746 to 1 770. J HISTORY OK MONSON. 87 

Improvements very small, their Lands yet to Svibduc. The Prog- 
ress much retarded by the necessity to \vork out of town the prime 
part of the year * * to procure Provisions. * * Thefevyset- 
lers are scattered all ah' the Town. Much Laliour has & must be 
spent in making antl opening Roads and Bridges * * a burthen 
too heavy for the small, weak nimiber that is there. * * * They 
therefore apprehend themselves utterly unable to Bear any Portion 
of the Publick Taxes, as yet, * * but hope that their small Be- 
gining in Time may become usefull if the\- ma\ be nurssed and 
favoured now in their Infancy." 

What, if anything, was done by the General Court in answer to 
this pathetic petition, in respect to '' nurssing" the infant sujipliant, 
does not appear in the Provincial records.' 

SCnOOI.S, I'KKACHINO, M KKTING-HOISK .WD M KIC riNC.-HOUSK PLACE. 

It is shown In the records of the doings of tlie annual town meet- 
ings in Monson that the attention of the inhabitants was many times 
called to all of these topics, but always in vain. 

Sc/wo/s. An article first appeared in the warrant for the annual 
town meeting in i7S3- '' To see if the town would raise a sinn of 
money ibr a school .'^" ''Passed in the negative." The like articles 
were inserted in the warrants for the annual town'meetings in 1756 
and 1760, and in each year, as before, ''passed in the negative." 
After 1760, I do not find that any eflbrt was made^for a tax either 
for a school-house or school. 

Preaching-. In the year 1749, 1751- i75-- ^754 and 1757, the 
(juestion of raising a tax for the •' support of Preaching amongst 
them" was brought before the annual town meetings, and each year 
either ''passed in the negative," or was not acted on at ail. But in 
1763 the town '' Voted a tax of t'300, C). T., to support the Gos- 
pel, each person to pay \\ here they hear.'"' Yet it seems that this 
tax was not collected, the town the next year having voted to 
" sink'' it. In 1764, at the annual meeting, a vote was passed '' To 
Raise £400, O. T., to make satisfaction to the Towns of Holies and 
Amherst for tlie Privileges we Enjoy in attending Meeting with 
theni." But at a subseciuent town meeting, in 1767, "Voted that 
the iu(»ne\ Raised in 17('4- ;>"d assessed for the Towns of Holies 
and Amherst shall not l)e collected," so that it does not appear that 
any tax was ever collected in Monson, to pay for preaching either 
in the town or out of it. 



88 HISTORY OF MONSON. [^746 tO 1 770. 

Building a Meeting- House. Between the years 1753 and 1767^ 
an article several times was inserted in the warrant for the annual 
town meeting to " see if the town will Vote to be taxed for the 
Building of a Meeting-House and Settling the Gospel amongst 
them." And also "To see if the Town will Petition the General 
Court for a tax on the Land of Residents and non Residents to 
build a Meeting-House and setel the Gospel." These various pro- 
posals all alike " passed in the negative ;" as also did a proposition, 
introduced in 1760 " to build a Meeting-house at the most conven- 
ient place near the Center of the Town or '•pick'' a new one." 

In 1763, and again in 1765, Monson was coupled with Merrimack 
in sending a Representative to the New Hampshire General Court. 
In the former year these towns were represented ])y Major Joseph 
Blanchard, and in 1765, by Capt. John Chamberlain, both supposed 
to live in Merrimack. At the census of New Hampshire taken in 
1767, the population of Monson was 393. 

PROPOSALS TO divide; the town, and final repeal of the 

CHARTER. 

The people of Monson, like their neighbors of Hollis, do not 
at any time seem to have been well content with their chartered 
boundaries. Several expedients in different years came before 
the annual town meetings proposing changes in the chartered 
limits of the town, some of them favoring additions to its territory, 
others, a division of it in various ways. Among the rest was a pro- 
posal adopted at the March meeting in 1760 " To annex the Land 
on the south side of Monson to Holies, and to Petition the Governor 
and Council for such part of Souhegan West to be added to the 
Remainder of Monson as will be sufficient to maintain the Gospel, 
and other incidental charges." Again in 1761, the town "Voted ta 
set oft' one mile and a half on the south side of Monson to Holies." 
This last vote it would seem was passed to favor a petition of Hollis 
to the General Court for the like purpose. After this date all ques- 
tions looking t(j a change in the boundaries of the town seem ta 
have rested till the year 1770, when the people of Monson, having 
bandoned all hope of maintaining preaching, or of " settling the 
Gospel among them," or of building a meeting-house, or even of 
finding a suitable " Meeting-house Place," petitioned the General 
Court to put a final end to their unhappy and troubled corporate 
life by a repeal of their charter. In their petition for this repeal. 



1769.] INCORPOHATION OF KAHY. 89 

they told the General Court as a reason for it, " That the Land in 
and about the Center of Monson is so very poor, Broken, Baron and 
uneaven, as cannot admit of many Settlers, so that those Families 
that are in Town, are almost all planted in the Extreme parts of it." 
* * * " W'c have no prospect of ever Huildin<^ a Meeting-House 
in the Center or elsewhere, any ways to accommodate us, by which 
Difficulties we think the Gospel will not be settled among us while 
in the present situation. We therefore pray, &c." 

The consent of Hollis to accept of two miles in width of the south 
side of the suppliant town, and of Amherst all the residue, having 
been first obtained, an Act was passed by the General Court, July 
4, 1770, dividing Monson by an East and West line passing very 
near its centre, annexing the south part to Hollis and the north to 
Amherst. In this way, and in answer to its own humble entreaties, 
this ancient town voluntarily surrendered its right to municipal life, 
and for more than a century has been effaced from the map of Newr 
Hampshire, and all memory or tradition of it is now nearly lost to 
the present generation. Since the corporate death of Monson, its 
remains have been subdivided into four fragments, the largest of 
them being in the body politic of Milford, the smallest in Brookline, 
the remainder about equally divided between Amherst and Hollis. 

INCORPORATION OF RABY, WILTON AND MASON. THE MILE SLIP. 

DUXBURY. MILPORD. 

The west line of Hollis and Monson, as chartered in 1746, as al- 
ready shown, was the original west line of old Dunstable, running 
due south by the needle from Souhcgan river to the new Province 
line. The towns of Wilton and Mason, granted l)y tlie " Masonian " 
proprietors in i749i were afterwards chartered with the same boun- 
daries as granted — Wilton in 1763 and Mason in 176S. The east 
line of these towns also run due south from the Souhegan river to 
*he Province line, parallel with and about one mile distant from the 
west line of Hollis and Monson. thus leaving, in the intermediate 
space, a tract of unincorporated territorv, about a mile wide, and 
extending from the .Souhegan river to the Province line. This tract 
of land, at that time, and for some years later, was known as the 
'^ Mile Slip" but often in the old records called the " Mile Strip,'' 
and sometimes " Strip tozvti.'' A considerable number of families 
had settled on the Mile Slip, who naturally felt the need of a town 
charter. Their near neighbors at tlie west end of Hollis. as has 



90 I>fCORPORATION OF RABY. [^1^6^. 

been seen, some years V)efore had felt themselves mnch aggrieved at 
the location of the Hollis meeting-house, so far from themselves and 
so near to the east end of their town. Whether willing or not, 
these settlers in the west end of Hollis, as the Province laws then 
were, were taxable, both in person and estate, for the building of 
the meeting house and support of the ministry there, the same as 
the rest of the inhabitants. Tliey hail now, for many years, impa- 
tiently borne this injustice. So long as the boundaries of Hollis re- 
mained as fixed in the original charter of the town, these west end 
settlers doubtless cherished the hope that at some time in the future 
better justice would be done them, either by the erection of a new 
meeting-house, or the removal of the one already built nearer to the 
centre of the town. But all hope of this sort forever vanished in 
the year 1763, on the annexation of One Pine Hill to the east end 
of Hollis, thus bringing the centre (^f the town about two miles 
nearer to the west end, and the meeting-house so much nearer to the 
centre. The people in the other parts of Hollis were doubtless de- 
sirous of quieting the murmurs of their discontented and trouble- 
some townsmen at the west end, provided it could be done consis- 
tently with the geographical symmetry and pecuniary interests of 
the old town. With this end in view, the expedient of forming a 
new town from this " JVIile Slip," and the west end of Hollis, was 
first brought to the attention of the people of Hollis at their annual 
town meeting in the spring of 1764, less than three months after the 
conquest of One Pine Hill. At that meeting the town '•• Voted To 
measure East from the Meeting House to the Town Line — and 
then to Measure J/V.v/ tVom the Meeting House the same Length of 
Line — And all West by a North and South Line to be set off to the 
One Alile Strip so called." 

The like vote was passed at the annual town niccling in 1768. In 
1769, about ;i year after this last vote, the south part of the Mile 
Slip and a tract of territory about one mile and one-fourth wide, 
from otV the west <:\\(\ of Hollis. were incorj^orated into a town by 
the name of Rabv, so called from a town of tiiat name, in the 
county of Diuhani. in the north part of England, from which some 
of its settlers llrst emigrated. It ap])ears from the documents and 
records relating to Rab\-. that the petitioners for the charter asked 
for and expected a tract of land two miles in width from the west 
end of Hollis to be united with the Mile Slip. It is also evident 
that the people of Hollis were willing to spare the two miles, 



1776.] MILU-SLII' AND DUXBUKY. 9I 

provided it could be done and still leave their meeting-house equally 
distant from the new east and west lines, otherwise they were not 
willing. I infer from the language used in the charter of Raby, 
that the Governor and Council tried to ilo their best to satisfy both 
parties — that is, to give to Raby the two miles, and also to leave the 
HoUis meeting-house no nearer the new west line than it then was 
to the east line. Accordingly, with this end in view, they described 
the south-east corner of the new town as being "at a stake and 
stones about two miles from the South West corner of Ilollis (as 
Mollis then was) thence North by the needle to the North line of 
HoUis, leaving the meeting house in the middle between tliis line 
and the East line of said Ilollis." 

But unfortunately the west line of Ilollis did not extend far enough 
towards the setting sun, bv three-fourths of a mile, to give to Raby 
the coveted two miles, and at the same time to leave the Ilollis 
meeting-house at equal distances from the east and west lines of the 
town. It not lieing possible to satisfy both conditions, the sur- 
veyor who run the town line appears to have come to the conclu- 
sion that it was of more importance that the Mollis meeting-house 
should be equally distant from the east and west lines of the town, 
than that the i^eople of Raby should have all the land they expected. 
Accordingly the line was so established as to take from Mollis a tract 
of land about one mile and one-fourth in width, instead of two miles, 
and leaving Ilollis meeting-house the same distance from the east 
line of Raby as it was from the west line of Dunstable. The people 
of Raby were evidently disappointed with this result, and the 
next year, at the annual town meeting in Ilollis. an article was 
mserted in the warrant, "'To see if the town would set olVto Raby 
the Families and Lands they expected." This question being sub- 
mitted to the meeting, it was " passed in the negative," and the 
meeting-house in Ilollis continued, for many years after, to divide 
equally — a straight line passing through it — between the new west 
and east lines of the town. The town of Raby, as at first chartered, 
was but about two and one-half miles wide, and contained not more 
than twelve square miles — an area not much more than one-thirtl of 
that of Mollis. The people of that town were not content with 
these narrow limits, but the war and troubles of the Revolution 
soon coming on, this discontent was allowed to sleep till the war 
was well over. But in 1785, two years after the war was ended, 
the people of Raby presented their grievances to the General Court 



93 MILE-SLIP AND DUXBURY. {.^11^' 

in a petition setting forth the small population and narrow limits of 
their town, together with the alleged mistake in their boundaries 
when chartered, occasioned as was charged by the "wrongs or 
sharp practice of Hollis," and asking for the annexation from 
Hollis of three-fourths of a mile more. Upon notice of this petition 
a town meeting was soon called in Hollis and resolutions adopted 
to oppose it, and Capt. Daniel Emerson, at that time their Repre- 
sentative in the General Court, was instructed to use his influence 
against it. Notwithstanding the stout opposition of Hollis, the 
General Court decided that Raby was in the right, and passed an 
act setting off from the west end of Hollis to Raby another tract of 
territory of the uniform width of three-fourths of a mile. This last 
annexation to Raby left the length of the south line of Hollis four 
miles and eighty-five rods instead of six miles and ninety-six rods as 
in the original charter. In 1796 the name of Raby was changed to 
Brookline by an act of the General Court upon a petition of the in- 
habitants of the town. 

In the year 1776, upon application to the General Court of its in- 
habitants, the north part of the Mile S//p, including a tract of terri- 
tory of about one thousand acres, known as the Duxbury School 
Farm^ was invested with limited town privileges. In a census of 
New Hampshire taken in 1767, the Mile Slip had sixty-nine inhabi- 
tants ; in that taken in 1775, it had eiglity-three. In the census of 
1790 it was called Dnxbury^ and tlicn had a population of one hun- 
dred and sixty-nine. 

In 1794 the town of Milford was incorporated. The act charter- 
ing Milford was entitled "an act to incorporate the south westerly 
part of Amherst — the north-westerly part of Hollis — theiMile Slip 
and Duxbury School Farm, into a town." Milford, as incorporated^ 
included a small part of Amherst north of the Souhegan river, much 
the largest portion of that part of the old town of Monson, which 
by the division of Monson in 1770 had been annexed to Amherst; _ 
all of the Mile vSlip not included in Raby, with the Duxbury School 
Farm, and an area of from 1000 to 1 500 acres taken from the north- 
west corner of Hollis. It does liot appear that the people of Hollis 
made any opposition to this contribution to the territory of their 
new neighbor. The inhabitants living on the territory annexed 
were nearer to the village in Milford than to the meeting-house in 
Hollis, and probably, without objection, acquiesced in the transfer. 
This tract annexed to Milford is the last loss or gain in tenitory 
which has fal|en to the lot of Hollis for the last three-quarters of 



1776.] INCORPORATION OF MILFORD. 93 

a century and more. Diirinj^ that period the town has remained of 
the same shape and dimensions, as left at the incorporation of Mil- 
ford, without any encroachment from its nei<2jhbors since, or cflbrt 
on the part of its inliahilanls to extend their borders. According to 
a survey and plan of the town, (now at Concord), made in the year 
1806 by Nathan Colburn, a IloUis surveyor, still remembered, IloUis, 
as it then was, and still is, contains an area of 19,620 acres, or 
about 30 2-3 square miles, a territory not very much diHering in ex- 
tent from that of the town as first chartered. In all these many 
border troubles and controversies, w'hich I have taken occasion to 
notice, it cannot but be observed that the people of HoUis have uni- 
formly had a wakeful eye to their own rights and interests, that they 
at all times vigorously and vigilantly endeavored to hold their own, 
and the present generation will find little i-eason to reproach the 
memory of their ancestors for not guarding and striving to perpet- 
uate the rights and interests of those who should come after them, 



Q^ -I'HK PROVINCIAL Mll.lTlA UAW. [^744 



CHAPTER VII . 

THE PROVINCIAI. MILl'IIA LAW. FIRST MILITIA COMPANY IN 

HOLLIS. IIOLI.IS IN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS OF 1 744 

AND 1751^. PETITIONS FOR GUARDS. NAMES OF OFFICERS 

AND PRIVATE SOLDIERS. I 744 TO 1 763. 

A law enacted by the New Hampshire General Court in the 
year 171S, required all able bodied male persons between the ages of 
sixteen and sixty, with the exceptions mentioned below, to do 
military duty. These exceptions included members of the Gener- 
al Court, ministers, deacons, schoolmasters, physicians, justices of 
the peace, millers, ferrymen, and such persons as had before held a 
military commission. Each private soldier was required to be fur- 
nished with a "^ Fire Lock^ Snap Sac/;, CartoncJi Box. Worm 
a??d Pri?nitig Wire, i Potn/d of Gtm Pozvder, 20 Bullets. a??d 
12 Blints. " and to train four days in the year, and to muster once 
in three years." It was also made the duty of each town in the Pro- 
vince to keep on hand a stock of ammunition for the town's use, 
consisting of " one barrel of good Gun powdei". 100 ])ounds of 
bullets and 300 flints, for every sixty .Soldiers," and also to provide 
arms and ammunition for such poor soldiers as were not able to sup- 
ply themselves. This law. with but little change, remained in force 
till the war of the Revolution, and it explains the reasons for many 
votes found in the records of Ilollis for the assessment of '* Rates " 
for the " town stock of ammunition."* 

In May 1744, the General Court j^assed an Act organizing the 
6th Regiment of New Hampshire militia. This regiment, of which 
Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable was Colonel, embraced the mili- 
tia companies of a large jiart of the territory acquired by the set- 
tlement of the new Province line in 174I1 l)eing the towns and dis- 
tricts then known as Dunstable, the West Parish of Dunstable, 
Rumford, (now Concord), Nottingham, (now Hudson), Souhegan 

*Province Laws, pp. 92, 97. 



1744-J I'IKST MIMTIA tOMi'ANY. 95 

East, (now Bedford.) .Souhcijan West, (now Amherst), and some 
others, makin<2^ in all nine companies, of which that in West Dun- 
stable was tlie ninth. Of this last company, Peter Powers was ap- 
pointed Captain by the Governor and Council.* As we find in the 
Ilollis records, shortly after the appointment of Captain Powers, 
the title of Li'cjttcnani prefixed to the name of Benjamin Farley, of 
Itfisig'n to that of Jerahmael Cumings, and of Sergeant io the name 
of James Stewart, there can be but little doubt that those persons held 
the offices indicated, in the first militia company of West Dunsta- 
ble. In those times of peril, when it was necessary for the defence 
of the hearth-stone and family from the midnight assault and scalp- 
ing knife of the savage, that each citizen should be a soldier, 
military titles, as in after times, had not become an empty compli- 
ment. Such titles as Captain, Lieutenant and Rnsign indicated 
that the persons known by them were distinguished among their 
townsmen for such qualities as were most useful and most needed 
for the conunon safetv. and for thai reason most valued and lion- 
ored. When once duly bestowed, thev virtuallv became a ])art of 
the name of such persons as were entitled to them, to be used alike 
in social intercourse and in the public records. 

From the year 1745 to January 26, 1775, we find no roll of the 
Ilollis militia company, nor have the names of its officers come 
down to us except as those names have been preserved in the Ilollis 
tax lists, and other public documents, with their rank or title pre- 
fixed. It appears from an original roll of the Ilollis militia com- 
pany of the last date, still existing, supposed to be in the handwrit- 
ing of the town clerk of the time, that inclusive of officers Ilollis 
then had 224 soldiers liable to do military duty, that being the num- 
ber of names on this roll. Of this company Joshua Wright was 
Captain, Reuben Dow Lieutenant, and Noah Worcester Ensign. 

In addition to the military officers alreadv mentioned, we find on 
the Ilollis tax lists and other puV)lic documents prior to 1775. many 
names of Ilollis men with militarv titles, most if not all of whom 
may be presumed to have held the commissions indicated h\ their 
several titles in the militia companv of Ilollis. Captains — Benja- 
min Abbot, Zedekiah Drury and Leonard Whiting. Lieutenants, 
— Robert Colburn, Amos Eastman. vSamuel Farley. David Farns- 
worth, Amos Fisk, Samuel Gridlev and James Taylor. Linsigtis — 
Stephen Ames, Josiah Brown, Jonas Flagg, Daniel Merrill and 
Benjamin Parker. 

*Prov. Papers' Vol. 5, p. 232. 



96 



PETITION FOR GUARDS. 



I744-] 



THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR OF 1 744* 

In the month of March, 1744, the French and Indian war was 
beo-un, in which the Massachnsetts and New Hampshire troops un- 
dertook the chivah-ous expedition for the capture of Louisburg.* 
This warhisted till October, 1748. As in former wars, the Canada 
and Eastern Indians took sides with the French, who, coming in 
large numbers from Canada and Nova Scotia, prowled around 
our defenceless settlements, waylaying, murdering and scalping, or 
taking captive to Canada the settlers in the frontier towns, some of 
which no farther oft" than Peterborough, Lyndeborough and New 
Boston, were wholly deserted. The inhabitants of Hollis, Monson, 
Souhcgan East, Souhegan West, and other places west of the Mer- 
rimack river, repeatedly petitioned the General Court for scouts and 
garrisons for their protection. 

Among the earliest of these petitions was one from the old Parish 
of West Dunstable. On the iSth of June, 1744, about three months 
after war was declared, at a meeting of the inhabitants of West Dun- 
stable, James Stewart was chosen their delegate to present this peti- 
tion to the General Court. The Commission of Mr. Stewart for this 
purpose was in writing, signed by all, or very nearly all of the 
householders then in West Dunstable, forty-five in number, and 
was in substance as follows : 

'• Dunstable, June iS, 1744. 

" Wee, the Inhabitants of the West Parish in the District of Dun- 
stable, do hereby authorise and depute Mr. James Stewart in our 
names and behalf, to make proper application to the Government of 
New Hampshire, vSetting forth our being situated on the Frontier, 
and exposed to the Enemy, and the Necessity wee are in of a Guard, 
and Pray for a Sutable and Seasonable Relief there. 

" Voted to Request Six Garasons and twenty-five soldiers." 

Capt. Peter Powers William Colburn 

• Lieut. Benjamin Farley Samuel Comings 
Ensign Jekahmael Comings Jonathan Danford 
William Adams 
Stephen Ames 
Henry Barton 
Benjamin Blanchard 
Benjamin Blanchard, Jr 



William Blanchard 
Elnathan Blood 
J031AH Blood 
Nathaniel Blood 
John BovNTON.Jun 
John Brown 
JosiAH Brown 



Rev. Daniel Emerson 
Samuel Farley 
Joseph Farley 
Nicholas French 
Stephen Harris 
William Hartwell 
Stephen Hazeltine 
Josiah Hobart 
Enoch Hunt 
Zerubbabel Kemp 
Jonathan Lovejoy 
James McDaniels 



Joseph McDaniels 
Randall McDaniels 
Jonathan Melvin 
David Nevins 
Thomas Nevins 
Benjamin Parker 
Samuel Parker 
Thomas Patch 
John Phelps 
Amos Philips 
Moses Proctor 
James Wheeler 
Peter Wheeler 
Francis Worcester, Jr 
Joshua Wright. "t 



♦Holmes Annals, Vol. 3, p. 2\. fProv. Papers, Vol. 9, p. 195. 



1744 ^^ '747-] PETITIONS for cjuakds. 97 

The following extracts from the petition soon after presented by 
Mr. Stewart set forth tlic reasons for it and the conditir)n of the set- 
tlement at the time. 

" Tlie Memorial and Petition of James Stewart, in the name and 
behalf of the inhalntants of the West Parish of Dunstable, Humbly 
sheweth. That said Parish has been settled about 14 years, and a 
Gospell Minister ordained above a year. * * That many Thou- 
sand Pounds has been spent in clearing and cultivating the Land 
there, and some Thousands more in Building Houses, Barns and 
Fences. * * * The breaking up of which Settlements will not 
only ruin the Memorialists, but greatly diserve his Majesty's 
Interest." 

'' That it was by long and importunate Intercession of this Prov- 
ince (and not of the Memorialists seeking) that they are cast under 
the immediate care of this Government, which they conceive gives 
them so much the better right to its Protection. That as War is 
already declared against France, and a Rupture with the Indians 
hourly expected, your Memorialists, imlcss they have speedy help, 
will soon be oblidged to leave their Settlements. * * Wherefore 
your Memorialists most humbly supplicate * * such seasonable 
Relief as may enable them to subsist in the war, and (be) secure 
against the Ravages and Devastations of a blood thirsty and Merciless 
Enemy." 

Near three years later, about one year after Hollis was chartered 
as a town, (the war still raging) at a town meeting held in April, 
1747, Samuel Cumings was appointed a delegate to present to the 
General Court a second petition for '•srouLs''' and ''■ ouards.'''' The 
subjoined extracts from the petition of this delegate show the con- 
dition and needs of the town at that time. He says to the General 
Court in this petition, "That Holies is a Frontier town much 
exposed to Danger from the Indian Enemy, and the number of 
Effective men belonging tfi the same not exceeding fifty, who have 
all or most of them Families to take care of and being mostly new 
settlers, have much Labour on their hands to subdue and cultivate 
their Lands. That their situation is such that they dare not to ven- 
ture to work without a guard * * which if they cannot have they 
must spend their time in zi'atchiiiir and ^vardiug. in which case 
their families must sutler for want of the necessaries of life. * * * 
And they Humbly pray that they may be allowed a scout of ten or a 
dozen men for the ensuing season till the Danger of the Summer 
(T) 



98 FRENCH WAR FROM 1 754 'l'<-' l7^3- 

and Fall of tlie \car*is o\er and the haiAcst ])ast * * and as in duty 
bound Sic."'* In reply to these and oilier like petitions from the 
frontier settlements and to\vns ^vest of and near the Merrimaek in 
similar perils, the General Coini at several different times detailed 
detachments of soldiers as patrols to scout through the woods Avest 
of that ri\ei", and at one time voted a force of ninety scouts to patrol 
the forests from the mouth of the Contoocook ri\'er to Holies. 

During this war the grim government bounty for Indian scalps for 
the enc(jm"agement of sct)uts and Indian hunters Avas increased by 
vote of the General Court from t'loo, paid for them in Lo\eweir.s 
war, to £.Jt^o, O. T., and at one time to £400, O. T., for each Indian 
scalp taken west of Nova Scotia, and produced to the Governor 
and Council. Prol)abl\' owing to the efforts of the government, 
united with the vigilance of the settlers, it does not appear that any 
attack was made upon Ilollis or any of the adjoining" towns. I do 
not find that Ilollis furnished any soldiers for the New Hampshire 
regiments raised in this \var, antl not more than two or three Ilollis 
names appear in the printed lists of New Hampshire " scouts" pub- 
lished in the report of the Adjutant General for 1866. The pro- 
tection of their own families and firesides Avas the first, and wt)ukl 
seem the only military duty, in these years, asked or expected of the 
settlers in the towns on the extreme frontier. 

THE WAR ITS WHICH cy^UiBEC WAS lAKlCN AND CANADA CONq_UERED. 

In 1754^ about eight > ears after the peace of Aix La Chapelle, 
the last French and Indian A\'ar was begun, which endetl in the 
capture of C^^uebec antl the ihial concjuest of Canada.! Ilollis in 
this war was no longer on the extreme frontier, and Avas much less 
exposed to the attacks of the sa\ages than in the preceding war. 
During the eight >ears of peace, the popidation of the town had 
very considerably increased, and its soldiers seem to have done their 
whole duty in filling up the ranks of the New Hampshire regiments 
called for by the (Tovernment. In the roll of a small detachment 
of New Ilampsliire troops posted on the Connecticut river in the fall 
of 1754, and to be found in the report of the Adjutant General for 
1 866, above referred to, I find the names of John Cunrings, James 
French. Jonathan Hubbard, (Ilobart) vSamuel Parker and James 
Whiting, all names appearing on the Ilollis records and belie\ed to 
have been HoUis soldiers. 



*Pr()v. Rapers, A'ol. 9, p. ^(X). 
tHnlmes' Aniuils, Vol. 2. \k 5. 



I-'RENCH WAR FROM 175.I TO I 763. 99 

In 1755. New Hampshire raised a regiment eommaniled \^y Col. 
Joseph Blanchard, to aid in the expedition against tlie French forts 
at Crown Point on the west shore of Lake Champlain. Of this regi- 
ment. Rev. Daniel Emerson was Chaplain, Dr. John Hale, Sur- 
geon's Mate, and Jonathan Hubbard, (Hol)art) Adjutant, all of 
Hollis.* 

Nearly two-thirds of the Third Compau} of this regiment were 
also Hollis men. Of this company, Peter Powers was Captain. 
Benjamin Abbot, Lieutenant; William Cumings, Ensign ; James 
Colburn, Clerk ; David Hubbard, (Hobart) and Samuel Cumings, 
Sergeants; Jonathan Powers, Enoch Noyes, Stephen Ha/eltineand 
James Brown, Corporals, and Samuel Brown. Drummer, all of 
Hollis. Among the private soldiers, or se?i////c/s, we recognize the 
following Hollis names, viz. : Jacob Abbot, Ebenczer Ball. Samuel 
Barrett, Jabez Davis, John Flagg, Jonathan Fowler, Josiah French, 
John Goodhue, James Hill, George Lesley, Christopher Lovejoy, 
Levi Pow^ers, Stephen Powers, Whitcomb Powers, Isaac Stearns, v 
Nathaniel Townsend, Daniel Wheeler. James Wheeler. Peter 
Wheeler and John Willoughby. making in all thirt\-four Hollis 
men in this regiment. 

In August I757r after the capture of Fort William Henr\ bv the 
French and Indians, a battalion of two hundred and fiftv New 
Hampshire troops was raised for the defence of Fort Edward, near 
Lake George, commanded by Major Thomas Tash. In the first 
company of this battalion there were eleven Hollis soldiers, viz. : 
Benjamin Abbot, Jacob Abbot, Stephen Ames, Ephraim Blood. 
Elnathan Blood, Robert Campbell, Timothy Emerson, John Hale. 
Samuel Hobart, (Sergt.) Jonathan Hobart and John Willoughby. 

In 175S, a regiment of New Hampshire troops was raised, com- 
manded by Col. John Hart of Portsmouth, a part of which was 
ordered to join a second expedition against Louisburg, antl the 
remainder to serve on the western frontier. Of this regiment Rev. 
Daniel Emerson was Chaplain, and Dr. John Hale. Surgeon. Of 
its Sixth company, Ebenezer Jaquith \vas Second Lieutenant and 
Josiah Brown, Ensign. Besides the foregoing, there were also in 
the same company sixteen Hollis soldiers, making in all twentx 
Hollis men in this regiment, viz. : Nathaniel Blood, Joseph East- 
erbrook, Jonathan Fowler, James French, Samuel Ilazeltine, James 
Hubbard, (Hobart), Thomas Nevins, Ebenezer Pierce, Whitcomb 

*V'ol. 2, Adjt. Gen. Rep. for 1SO6. pp. <ifj, 120, i^i, 133. 



lOO FRENCH WAR FROM 17^4 TO 1763. 

Powers, Thomas Powers, Isaac Stearns, Samuel wStearns, James 
Taylor, Abel Webster, Peter Wheeler and John Willoughbv. 

In 17591 the year of the capture of Qiiebec, a New Hampshire 
regiment was raised and put under the command of Col. Zaccheus 
Lovewell, of Dunstable, with its rendezvous at that place. With 
the exception of two companies, the rolls of this regiment are 
lost, but as it was made up of drafts from the militia regiments of 
the whole province, and its headquarters being in an adjacent town, 
there can be no reasonable doubt that the Hollis soldiers were well 
represented in it. 

In 1760. the year of the final conquest of Canada, New Hamp- 
shire furnished its last regiment of eight hundred men for this war, 
of which John Gofie was Colonel, having its headquarters at Litch- 
field. This regiment marched to its destination bv the way of Mon- 
son, Keene, the Green Mountains, and thence to Crown Point. Its 
adjutant was Samuel Hobart,and on the roll of one of its companies 
I find the following names of Hollis soldiers: Joseph Taylor, Lieut., 
James Taylor, Sergeant, and among the pris-ates, Jotham Cumings, 
Francis Powers, and Joshua Wright.* 

In the foregoing lists there will be found sixty-one different 
■names of men who as private soldiers or officers, in the several 
years of that war, went into the army from the territory now or at 
that time embraced in Hollis. How many other names of Hollis 
soldiers were on the lost rolls, cannot now be told. As no census 
had then been taken of which wc have any knowledge, we have no 
means of learning the population of the towai during that war with 
much approach to accm'acy. The number of names on the Tax 
Lists, from 1754 to 1760, then v;\ried fi"om one himdred and eight to 
one hundred and seventeen, and the number of men furnished from 
the town in that war was equal to more than one half the number of 
tax pa3ers, besides those that mav l^ne been on the lost rolls. 

In Februarv rjf')^, by the treaty concluded at Paris, peace was 
again proclaimed. For thirteen of the nineteen years beginning 
with 1744 and ending with 1763, our ancestors were engaged in this 
savage and liloody warfare for the defence of their lives and fire- 
sides, carried on by their enemies wdtlr the avowed purpose of 
driving the English from the country. We now look back upon 
the history of those years and the doings of our ancestors, with 
feelings of filial gratitude and admiration, knowing as we do that 

■*Adjt. Gen. Kcp. for iS6.>, Veil. 2, pp. 191, 21,5, 2i.j, 333. 3.(.i. 



FRENCH WAR FROM 1 754 TO 1 763. lOf 

it was to their courage, constancy and sufferings that we owe the 
rich inheritance they have transmitted to iis. We would gUidly 
know much more than it is now possible to learn of the personal 
history of these early pioneers of the town and State, Init knowing 
as we do how soon the memorials of the dead fade from the recol- 
lections of the living, we may well be grateful that even the names 
of so many of these brave defenders of their country have come 
down to our times. 

The militia company in Ilollis, from the year 176S, formed a part 
of the 5th Regiment of the New Hampshire militia till the begin- 
ning of the war of the Revolution. From 1768 to 1775, the field 
officers of that regiment were Edward G. Lutwyche of Merrimack, 
Colonel ; its Lieut. Colonel was Dr. John Hale, and Samuel Ho- 
bart its Major. Col. Lutwyche was a loyalist or tory, and is said 
to have left the country near the beginning of the war. Major 
Hobart was appointed Colonel of the 2nd New Hampshire Regi- 
ment of minute men, by the New ILimpshire Provincial Congress 
in September 1775, and in November of the same year, Lieut. Col. 
Hale was elected Colonel of the 5th Regiment of New Hampshire 
militia. 



COLONIAL SCHOOL LAW. 



CHAPTER \^ I I 1 . 

COLONIAL SCHOOL LAW. SCHOOLS IN HOLLIS BEFORE THE REV- 
OLUTION. SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SCHOOL HOUSES. THE GRAM- 
MAR SCHOOL. TEACHERS OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. COL- 
LEGE GRADUATES, ETC., BEFORE iSoO. — LETTER OF GOV. JOHN 
WENTWORTH TO REV. MR. EMERSON. 1 74*^ "^^ ^775- 

By a Colonial law of New Hampshire passed in 17 19, and re- 
maining in force withont any important change till after the Revo- 
lution, it was enacted " that each Town in the Province having the 
number of fifty house holders shall be constantly provided of a 
schoolmaster to teach children to read and write, and when any 
town has one himdred families or house holders, there shall 
also be a Grammar School set up and kept. * * And some dis- 
creet person of good conversation, well instructed iu the to7tgucs^ 
shall be procmx'd to be master thereof. * * Everv such school 
master to I)e suitrdih' encouraged and paid by the inhabitants. * * 
And the .Selectmen of Towns are hereby Empowered to agree with 
such school masters for Salary, and to raise money by way of Rate 
upon the Inhabitants to pay the same." The law also provided that 
"If any such Town should neglect the due obsenance of the Law 
for the space of six months, it should incur a Penalty of £20." In 
1 731 this law was so amended in respect to towns having one hun- 
dred families, as to subject the selectmen, instead of the town, to a 
fine of £20, if their town for one month should be without a gram- 
mar school. 

The above law was unlike the New Hampshire School Laws in 
force during the present century in many important particulars. 

I St. It provided for a single school only for teaching children to 
read and write, in towns having fifty families and less than one hun- 
dred ; and for a grammar school in which the " tongues" or dead 
languages were to be taught in towns having one hundred families 
or more. 



17}<1 to I77=;-J SCItOOl, lAXKS. IO_^ 

Jiid. It was wh()ll\- silent as to school-houses, school districts 
and school committees. 

3(1. It contemplated the empIo\meni of male teachers only, 
' ' School Masters'' 

4th. The hirinjj^ of •• School Masters" — the whole management of 
the schools and the '• raisinoj of money by way of Rates" was en- 
trusted wholly to the selectmen. 

5th. It required, in its terms, both the school for teaching reading 
iind writing, and also that f(jr teaching the ''Tongues" to be kept 
*' constantly." 

The foregoing suggestions in respect to the province school law 
tend to explain many matters relating to schools to be found in the 
early Hollis records, otherwise not so readily understood. 

The first reference to public schools to be found in these records 
is in the doings of the annual town meeting of March, i749- ^ 
few days previous to that meeting, the old first meeting-house had 
been oflercd for sale at public auction and bid oft' at £49, O. T., and 
it was then " \'oted that the money the old meeting-house sold for 
be applied to the building of a school-house." Hut it afterwards 
appears from the records that this i'49, O. T., was not paid, and 
that the old meeting-house still continued to l)elong to the tow^n. 
In tlie vear 17^0 there were eighty-nine names on the tax list, and 
the number of families then in the town was doubtless fitty or more, 
■A number making it the duty of the town ''to provide a School 
Master to teach children to read and write." In that year the ftrst 
tax was assessed for a public school amounting to €50, (). T. I'^rom 
that time till the war of the Revolution and after, with the excep- 
tion of the vears 1752, '53, "54. and 1756. the town at its aimual 
meeting continued to vote a yearly tax for "a School" or '"the 
School," varying in amoimt from L'30. in silver or lawful money, 
to £800, O. T. In 1780. when the continental paper money had 
become so depreciated as to be nearly worthless, the nominal amount 
of the school tax in that currency was €4.000. 

I-"rom 17=50 t<i 1766. the school tax. like f)thcr taxes, was assessed 
in the Old Tenor paper currency, and varied from t'50. O. T.. the 
lowest amoimt in a year, to I'Soo, the highest. During the war 
this tax as other taxes of the time, were assessed and payable in the 
Continental paper money, varying in amount from €50, in i775' ^o 
i!4,ooo, in i 7S0. 

In 1753 the town " Voted to give Lieut. Samuel Cumings £52, 



J04 SCHOOI, HOUSES AND SCHOOL SQUADRONS. [l753- 

O. T., foi^ his house which was Dea. Worcester's, for a school 
house, and he is to have the use of said house on Sabbath days." 
But in 1755 it was " Voted to give Samuel Cumings one half of 
the old meeting-house for the use of the house the Town bought 
of him for a School-house the three years they had it, and said 
Cumings is to have his house again." In 1760 an article was in- 
serted in the warrant for the annual meeting, '•'• To see if the Town 
would build a School-house." The question upon this article com- 
ing up in the meeting, it was "• decided in the negative." From 
the doings of this meeting it is evident that the town owned no 
school-house in 1760. 

Till the year 1771 it would be naturally inferred, from the lan- 
guage used in voting the yearly school tax, that but a siiii^/c school 
was kept in the town at the same time — this tax being uniformly 
voted for " «" school, or " Mr" school, as if but one. — the school 
law in force at the time, apparently, contemplating but a single 
school in towns not having a sufficient number of families for a gram- 
mar school. Still it appears from other votes and doings of the 
town, that there may have been several schools kept at the same 
time in different parts of the town. 

In 17^2, it was "Voted that the school should be ///oz'cd i'ov the 
benefit of the town ;" and in i755i £100, O. T., were assessed as a 
school tax, and it was "Voted that the School should be kept in 
the four quarters of the town ; Each quarter to draw £25, and to 
keep the school when and where they please." This was what was 
called the }>iovabJc or ^''perambtilatory'''' school. 

The earliest approximation to any permanent local division of the 
town for school purposes is to be found in the records for i757- 
The town that year voted £400,0. T. for "a school," •• and that it 
be granted to every suitable number of persons that shall agree 
together in any part of the town (to have) their proportion for 
keeping a school among themselves, and those tliat dont joyn, their 
money is to be paid into the treasury for a school in the mitldle of 
the town." The like vote continued to be passed for many years 
after. These associations were wholly voluntary on the part o' 
those who united in them, and are called in the records, " School 
C/assc's" " School Societies " and sometimes " School Squadron s.,'" 
but in no instance, in the early records, "school districts." In 1760 
a connnittee was chosen " to divide the town for schools, and to ap- 
portion the money between the summer and winter schools." 



174610 '775-] '""- ''KAMMAR SCHOOL. I05 

In 1 761, Dca. Worcester, Bciijaiuin Abbot. James Jewett, Ste- 
phen Ames and Samuel Cumings were chosen a committee to fix 
phices for school-houses, and the next Near. 1762, the town ''voted 
that school houses should be built when there is a sufficient number 
that shall sign to any certain place to build the houses and each 
party is to build their own house." This is the last reference I iind 
in the town records to school-houses, and 1 think there is no reason- 
able doubt that such houses were built in accordance with that vote, 
but if so, how manv, when, in what ]:)arts of the town, and at what 
cost, these records do not tell iis. 

In 1771 the town •' voted £36, in Lawful Mcjney, (or silver) for 
schools to be laid out in the usual manner" and "that Mr. Emerson 
keep the Grannnar Sclujol for the t(nvn as usual, viz, : to teach all 
those in the town that shall present themselves in the lan<^uages." 
The foregoin<2r vote is the earliest notice of the Ilollis Grammar 
School to be found in the records. ])ut the words •• as ttsi/ar' imply 
that such a school had been kept for some years before. 

According; to the census of the town taken in 1767, Ilollis then 
contained S09 inhabitants, and then had 150 names on its tax lists, 
and without doubt there were then in the tow n more than 100 fam- 
ilies. If so it was the duty of the inhabitants, under the existing 
school hnvs, as early as that year, and probably eai'lier, to establish 
a gi'ammar-school. In 1774 the town ''Voted that the grammar- 
school should be kept the whole year in tlie four southern sq7(ad- 
ro7is^ the other squadrons to school out their money as usual." As 
that part of the town north of the meeting-house was somewhat 
larger in extent than the part south of it. we may fairly presume, 
that in 1774. there were as many as eight '•School Squadrons" in 
the town, and not luilikelv as many school-houses. In 1775 the 
town •• \'()te(l that Mr. William Cumiii^s keep the grammar-school." 
The foregoing are all the minutes to be founil upon the town re- 
cords relative to the Ilollis grammar-school, before the war of the 
Revolution, and we infer from them that such of the Ilollis \outh 
as wished for instruction in the " tongues." were taught by the Rev. 
Mr. Emerson, till the vear 177S' Nvhen he was succeeded by Mr. 
Cumings. The name of tliis Mr. Cumings is found upon one of 
the Ilollis military rolls in 177s with the title of •• Schocd-Master." 
He was for many years a teacher in the Ilollis schools, and long 
after his decease was gratefulK and atlectionately remembered, as 
"Master Cumings." In the two last \ ears of the war, and several 



ro6 RE\'. MR. EMERSON. [^746 ^O 1775- 

years after it. he held the office of Town Clerk, and the IloUis 
records of the time still exhibit abundant evidence of his neat and 
elegant penmanship, and of his ability not only to write his mother 
tongue correctly and in good taste, but also to garnish the produc- 
tions of his pen with a somew'hat pedantic display of his knowd- 
edge of Latin. 

It is very evident from documents that yet exist, that the youth of 
Hollis, before the Revolution, were taught to "read and write." as 
required in the existing school law. I have seen and examined 
more than one himdred of the original signatures of the Hollis revo- 
lutionary soldiers, all, with but rare exceptions, written in a fair, 
legil)le hand, and but two " marksmen " among them all, and these 
supposed not to have been born in the town. Judging from the 
published histories of many towns, which I have read, it is very 
certain that the schools in Hollis were better cared tor than in many 
towns both older and more populous. It was not uncommon, both 
in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, for towns or their selectmen 
to be indicted and fined for their neglect to ccMuph with the school 
laws. Other towns sometimes voted to indemnify their selectmen 
for such neglects. — it costing less money to pay the fines than to 
support the schools. But no such vote is to be foinul in the doings 
of any Hollis town meeting, nor have I learned that any criminal 
complaint was ever made against the town or its selectmen for vio- 
lation of the school laws. 

This comparatively good condition of the public schools in Hollis 
is imdcjubtedly due, in great measiu'e, to the efforts of their worthy 
minister, IMr. Emerson, and some of the prominent early settlers of 
the to\vn, and the active interest they took in the cause of popidar 
education. •• l"he good which men do," as well as "the evil." lives 
after them, and there can be no doubt tliat the salutary influence of 
Mr. Emerson and his compeers, felt alike by parents and the youth 
of Hollis, continued long after their decease. 

Some of the good fruits of this influence were to be seen in the 
imusually large luunber of the Hollis youth, born diu'ing the life of 
Mr. Emerson, who sought the achantages of a collegiate and profes- 
sional education. In the short biographical notices that I have read 
of Mr. b^merson it was s:iid of him that he was '"a popular and suc- 
cessful minister," antl that •• his praise was in all the churches." 
The youth of Hollis wdu> were born and grew up under his ministry, 
no doubt could say with equal truth, that his praise was in all the 



l746tOI77S-] COLI.KOK CKADl^ATES FiKFOUK iSoO. 



107 



schools. Mr. Emerson, as \vc have seen, was setlletl ui the ministry 
over his society m 1743, and his connection willi it as sole and asso- 
ciate pastor, continued till his death in 1801 , a jieriod of fifty-sixyears. 
It will be seen from the lists of Ilollis graduates of colleges, and of 
ministers, physicians and lawvers, not graduates, that eleven of the 
youth of Ilollis, born before the war of the Revoluticjn, were gradu- 
ates of colleges, and an equal number, not graduates, also born be- 
fore 1775, became ministers or physicians, It may also be seen that 
Hollis furnished twenty-eight graduates of colleges, born between 
the years 1775, and iSoo, during the pastorate of Mr. Emerson, a 
number equal to more than one for each year during the last quarter 
of the last centiny. 

The names of the HolUs Graduates of Colleges^ and of Minis- 
ters and Physicians., not Graduates^ born before 1773., are fre- 
setitcd in tlic foUoivifig Lists : 

GRADUATES OF COLLEGES. 



Rev. Peter Powers 






born 


173S 


■' JosiAH Goodhue 






" 


"735 


Henry CuMiNGS, 


D. 


D. 




"739 


" Joseph Emerson 






■' 


1/59 


Dr. Samlel Emerson 






" 


1764 


Rev. JosiAH Burgk 








1766 



Rev. Samuel Worcester, D. D. born 1770 

" Daniel Emerson, Jun. " 1771 

Jacob A.CuMiNGS " i77» 

" David Jewett " 1773 

Abel Farle\ " 1773 



MINISTERS AND PHYSICIANS NOT GRADUATES. 

Rev. Leonard Worcester born 1767 

" Thomas Worcester " 1768 

" David Smith ' " 1769 

Dr. Joseph F.Eastman " 1773 

Rev. David Brown " 1773 



Dr. AnijAH Wright 


born 


1746 


" Peter Emerson 


" 


'749 


Rev. Samuel Ambrose 


" 


'757 


" XoAH Worcester, D. D. 


" 


'7SS 


" Joseph Wheat 


" 


'759 


Dr. William Hale 


" 


1 76 J 



The )iaiiics of the Ilollis 
the years IJ7S and j8oo arc 

Joseph Emerson, 2d' born 

MiGHiLL Blood " 

Manasseh Smith " 

Stephen Farley Jun. " 

Caleb J. Tenney " 

Jonathan B. Eastman " 

Nehemiah IIardv " 

Benjamin Burge " 

Joseph E. Smith " 

Benjamin M. Farley " 

Joseph E. Worcester " 

Grant Powers " 

Fifield Holt " 

Noah Hardy " 



Graduates of Colleges born betzi.-een 
presented belozv : 



1777 Daniel Kendrick 

'777 WiLLi.vM Tenney 

1779 Eli Smith, Jr 

1779 Ralph Emerson 

17S0 Leonard Jewett 

1750 John Proctor 

1751 S.AMUEL E. Smith 

1753 Luke Eastm.vn 

1752 George F. F'arlev 
'7S3 Wm. p. Kendrick 
fjS.\ D.vviD P. Smith 

1754 Solomon Hardy 

1784 Eli N. Sawtellk 

1785 Taylor G. Worcester 



born 



'7SS 
'7SS 
17S7 
17S7 
17S7 
17S7 
17SS 
1790 
'793 
'794 
'79S 
1796 

'799 
'799 



I08 LETTER OF GOV. JOHN WENTAVORTH. [^77'^- 

I am indebted to my kind friend tlie late Rev. Dr. Bouton, for the 
following very sensible and graceful letter written to Mr. Emerson, 
in 1770, by Gov. John Wentworth, upon committing" to the tutor- 
ship of Mr. Emerson, a young orphan nephew. The letter is alike 
creditable to the head and heart of Gov. Wentworth, and is pleasant 
and pertinent evidence that the good reputation of Mr. Emerson as 
an instructor of youth and friend of education was well understood 
beyond the limits of Hollis. 

•'Wentworth House, Wolfeborough, j 

28. July 1770. I 
" 7^/ie Rev. ]\Ir. Emerson at Hollis^ 

'■'•Rev. S/r : — Inconsequence of a letcer 1 have just received from 
Major liobart, who w^'ites me that \ou are ready to receive my 
nephew, Alark Wentworth, and to take charge of his Education, I 
herewith send him and Earnestly beg your greatest care of his 
health and instruction. lie is a fine boy, of great .Spirit, which 
naturall}' leads him to playful negligence. He has also acquired 
idle habits which will be easily reformed under a strict discipline, 
equally removed from cruelty and levity. He must kno\\ that you 
in all things are to be obeyed and never suffer any sort of dis- 
obedience to your orders. This is moie peculiarly necessary for 
him, as he has to be brought up in the Navy, where implicit obe- 
dience is necessarv for the service and for him. As to his diet, I 
prefer simple, plain, and plentiful ; his tender age admits no other 
instruction than reading and writing. But no age is too tender to 
receive inculcations of practical neatness, honor and \ irtue. Witli 
these, enriched by a just habitual pietv, he caimot fail of being a 
good man, the first great object of Education. I hope hereafter to 
have opportunity to confer with a ou upon a future course of learn- 
ing adapted to Ids genius and profession. in the mean time 1 beg 
leave to assure you, that 1 can never think any. expense too great 
which he benefits by. and therefore gladl\' commit him to your care, 
not doubting but 1 shall rejoice in making you the most grateful ac- 
knowledgements for his improvement, wliich is the greatest and 
most earnest desire of Rev'' .Sir. 

"^'our most humble .Servant. 

Johx Wentworth." 



EABI-V COI.ONIAI. LAWS. t09 



C H A P T E R I X . 

EARKV COLONIAL LAWS. TOWN OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES. 

MODERATORS. SELECTMEN. CONSTABLES. FIELD DRI\'ERS. 

TITIIINO MEN. HOGREEVES. DEER REEVES AND DEER. WOLVES 

AND RATTLESNAKES. Ql'ALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS. HOUSES 

OF CORRECTION. THE POOR AND THEIR SUPPORT. WARNING 

TO LEAVE TOWN. SLAVERY tN NEW FFAMPSHIRE. I 74^ tO 

'775- 

The town officers authorized to be elected at the annual town 
meeting in March, before the Revolution, were a Moderator for 
the town meetings, Town clerk. Treasurer, Selectmen or " Toiuns- 
men" Constables, Fence viewers, Field Drivers or "Haywards," Sur- 
veyors of highways, Survej'ors of lumber. Sealers of weights 
and measures. Sealers of leather. Tithing-men, Deer-Reeves, I log- 
reeves. Pound-keepers. Overseers of the poor, and Overseers of 
houses of correction. 

The Aloderator then, as now. was the presiding officer of the 
town meeting. Xo person was allowed to speak in meeting with- 
out leave of that dignitary, nor ••when any other person was 
speaking orderlv," and all persons were to be silent at the request 
of the Moderator under the penalty of five shillings.* 

The number of Selectmen might be three, five, seven or nine. 
Before the Revolution the nimiber chosen in IloUis was either three 
or five, the last inmibcr liaving been chosen in fourteen out of 
twenty-nine years from 1746 to 1775. The selectmen were paid or 
not paid for their services, as decided by vote of the town at their 
election — the town sometimes voting to pay them for their time and 
expenses, sometimes their expenses only — and occasionallv that 
they should have no pay for either. In respect to several matters 
of public concern the Selectmen, under the colonv laws, had much 

•Cnl. L;nvs. ji. -•. 



1 lO lOAV^N OFFICERS. [174610 1775- 

more power and a wider field of duty tliaii at tlie present day. 
Tlie law not providing for other assessors of taxes it was made the 
duty of the .Selectmen to assess all the polls and estates of the inhab- 
itants according to the known ability of each person for the support 
of the ministry, schools, the poor, and for all other town e>qDenses.* 
They also had the whole charge of the public schools, including the 
providing of suitable buildings or rooms for teaching, and the em- 
ployment and paying of teachers, j 

Constables. One of the principal duties of Constables was to 
collect the taxes. Till the >ear 1765, but one Constable was elected 
in Ilollis who was charged with the collection of the taxes for the 
whole town. After that year two were chosen, one of whom was 
for the west side or west half of the town, the other for the east 
half. Two corresponding tax lists were made, one for each con- 
stable, the one list containing the names of the taxpayers in the 
western division, the other those in the eastern. 

Picid Drivers. This office in this state has long since grown 
into disuse. In colonial times it was the duty of these officers to- 
take up and impoimd neat cattle and other domestic animals found 
unlawfully running at large in the highways or upon the common 
land. For many years after the first settlement of Hollis, a very 
large part of the imimproved land was unfenced, the rights of the 
owners of such lands being in common. These conmion lands fur- 
nished much valuable pasturage, and liy the Province law neat 
cattle and other domestic animals were not permitted to feed upon 
them without the consent of the land owners. If such animals 
were found at large upon such lands without the consent of the 
owners, it was the duty of the Field Driver to impound them, for 
which service he was allowed one shilling each for horses and neat 
cattle, and three pence each for sheep and swine, to be paid by the 
owner of the animals. 

As early as i747 the town meeting in Hollis "voted that the 
cattle belonging to the town be booked within a week and go at 
large upon the commons this year, and to proceed with cattle that 
dont belong to the town according to the law of the Province." 
The next year it was *•' voted that residents and non-residents turn 
out cattle according to their rights, and that all otiiers l)e driven 
away." The like votes for the protection of the commons contin- 
ued to be passed for man}- >'ears after. 

*Col. I,:i\vs, ji, 138. 
tCol. I.aus. pi>. 1^3. 163. 



iy^6 U^ '77'^'-] TOWN OIIICKKS. Ill 

Tit/iim^- Men. I'hc ancient olHcc of Tilliinn-Man lias also l)c- 
conic obsolete, and the i/a/iic^ once a terror to riule and \va\\var(l 
\()iitli, \CY\ nearly so. It was anionic the duties of these ollicers U) 
inspect licensed houses, and to inform of all disorders in them. Also 
to inlorm of all idle and disorderly persons, profane swearers, 
and Sabhalh breakers, and to aid in their arrest and punishment. 
They carried as a badtje of their office a black staff tw(j feet long, 
tippeil at one end for about three inches with brass or pewter.* It 
was customary in Hollis to choose four of these officers, two of 
whom were known as Tithingmen '■'below.,'' the other two as Tith- 
ingmen " above."' All of them were expected to attend meeting on 
the Sabbath — the first two to ha\ e their seats on the lower floor, 
and to take note of all disorder and irreverence "below," the other 
two to be installed in the gallery, and to observe and report all dis- 
turbances and breaches of decorum '' above." 

Hog-reeves. By a law of the Province passed in 1719, swine 
\vere not permitted to run at large, between the first day of Apri! 
and the first dav of October, without being yoked and rung in 
the way described in the law, and two persons were required to 
be chosen at the yearly town meeting to enforce the Act. The 
"regulation" hog yoke was to be of wood, to be in length ecjual to 
the depth o^' the swine's neck, above the neck, and half as long be- 
low. The ring was to be of strong flexil)le iron wire inserted in 
the to]) of the nose to prevent rooting, the ends of the wire being 
so twisted together as to project one inch above the nose.t I>\- the 
custom of the town all the young men of Mollis, married within the 
year next preceding the anruial elections, were entitled to the com- 
pliment of being cfiosen to this responsible office. 

Deer ICeeves. The forests in most parts of New Ilampshi.e for 
many years after its first settlement abounded with deer. Both 
the flesh and skins of these animals being of great value to the 
settlers, laws were passed to punish the killing of them at such 
seasons as would diminish their increase. By a Province law of 
1 741 it was made a crime to kill deer between the last da\ of 
December ami the first day of August. An oil'ender against this 
law was liable to a fine of £10. If not able to pay he might be sen- 
tenced to \vork forty days for the Government, and fifty days if he 
should ofi'end a second time. It was made the duty of the town at 
the annual election to choose two ofliccrs, known as Deer Reeves 



*Col. Laws, p. sS. 
tCoI. Laws, p. 173. 



113 VOTERS AND THEIR (QUALIFICATIONS. [1764101775. 

or Deer Keepers^ to see that this law was obsened, with power to 
enter and search all places where they had cause to suspect that the 
skins or flesh of deer, unlawfully killed, was concealed. The first 
Deer Reeves in Hollis were Samuel Farlev, Josiah Brown -.xwiX 
William Adams, chosen in i747-~thc last, John Cmnings and 
Elnathan Blood, in 1766. 

Wolves and Rattlesnakes. Wolves, the natural and incorrigible 
enemies both of deer and man. also abounded at the early settle- 
ment of the town, as also did Rattlesnakes, and were the objects of 
wholly different laws and policv from those adopted in regard to 
deer. By a province law passed in 1719, towns were empowered 
to pay a bounty of 20s. per. head, (subsequently increased) for kill- 
ing grown wolves, and one-half of the like bounty for " wolf 
whelps." In pin-suance of this law and its amendments, in the years 
1760 and 1 761, the town voted to pay any Hollis man, who should 
kill a wolf within the town a bounty of 40s. and in 1766 this bounty 
was increased to $10.00. 

The policy of extermination in respect to Rattlesnakes^ with 
which parts of the town were then infested, was adopted earlier than 
that in regard to wolves. At tlie third parish meeting, held in 
West Dunstable, in ■March, 1740, it was •' \"oted that if any person 
should make it appear to the Parish Connnittee that during the yeai' 
he had killed one or more rattlesnakes within the parish, he shall 
be paid from the parish treasury one .Shilling for each snake so 
killed." 

^'oters and their qualifications. Prior to the Revolution, tiie 
qualifications for voting in town meetings varied with the objects 
of the meetings. To l)e qualified to vote tor town otficers, the per- 
son offering his vote was recjuircd to be a free holder in the town or 
to have other taxable estate of the value of £20.* 

In the choice and settlement of a minister for a town or parish, 
and fixing his salary, the right to vote was limited to the owners of 
real estate. t Nothwithstanding this restriction of the right to vote, 
the taxes for the support of the minister were assessed by the .Se- 
lectmen on land, personal estate a/td polls in the same manner as 
taxes for other town charges. To be competent to vote for a dele- 
gate to the General Court, the elector was required to be the 
owner of real estate in the town of the value of £50, and the can- 
didate, in order to be eligible to that office, to be possessed of real 
estate of the value of £300. 

*Co!. I.aw';, |>. i;,;. \\h. p. 55. 



1746 tt> 1775-] '"'1^- STOCKS AM) WIIII'PING POST. "ll^ 

Houses of Correction. A province law passed in 1719 provided 
for the erection and rej^adation of Hotises of Correction "for the 
keeping, correcting and setting to work of rogues., vagabonds., 
common beggars and /^icv/and idle persons'' Such persons on con- 
viction before the Court of .Sessions or a Justice of the Peace were 
to be sent to the House of Correction and set to work under the mas- 
ter or overseer of that institution. Upon his admission, the unlucky 
culprit was to be put in shackles or to be whipped, not to exceed 
ten stripes, unless the \varrant for his commitment directed other- 
wise. By an act of the General Assembly adopted in 1766, the law 
for the maintenance of Houses of Correction was extended to towns 
with the like powers and duties in respect to them.* It appears 
from the following vote of a special town meeting, on the iSth of 
March, 1773. that the people of Holiis had availed themselves of the 
right to establish such an institution for the town. It was then 
" Voted that Capt. Joshua Wright be overseer of the House of Cor- 
rection, and take all who may be sent there according to law." 
The foregoing vote is the only notice I find in the records of such an 
asylum for rogues and vagabonds. Both the records and traditions 
are alike silent in respect to the place of its location and the time it 
was continued, and also as to the names and numbers of its inmates, 
sent to the overseer to be welcomed on their introduction with 
shackles and stripes. 

The Stocks and M'hipping Post. The punishment of malefac- 
tors, " by making their feet of the oficnder fast in the stocks," is as 
ancient as the da}'s of Job,t and it is very evident from the recorded 
experiences of the Apostles Paul and Silas that neither the stocks nor 
whipping posts were imknown in their times. Sustained alike by 
abimdant liiblical precedent as well as by the laws of the ])rovince, 
our order-loving ancestors were not slow in j^roviding their town 
with both of these terrors of evil-doers. At a special town meeting 
in June, 1746, about two months after the town was incorporated, 
•• Voted that the Selectmen provide stocks ;" and at a town meeting 
in the month of January next after. '' Voted to Accept the Account 
of Josiah Conant for making the Stocks." The town whipjjing- 
post, the fitting companion of the stocks, held its place near the 
front of the meeting-house, not far from the west line of the common, 
till after the commencement of the present century, and was in use 

*Col. Laws, pp. 74, 139, 202. 
tjob, Chap. 13, V. ay. 

(8) 



114 "^"^ SIOCKS AND \V1IIPIMN(; POST. [174610 1/75. 

within the niemory of persons still living, with its inseparable asso- 
ciate, the " cat o' nine tails." The varied practical uses to \vhich 
the stocks and whipping-post were applied may be readily inferred 
by reference to a few of the cotemporary criminal laws for the pun- 
ishment of minor offen.ces. most of which were within the jurisdic- 
tion of justices of the peace. vSomc of these punishments were as 
follows ; 

Profane Cursi)ig and Sxvcariiig. •• For the first offence — a 
fine of one shilling. '' If not paid the culprit to be set in the stocks 
two hours — For more than one profane Oath at the same time — a 
fine of two shillings and to lie set in the stocks not more than three 
hours." 

DrKuhcniicss. " For lirst offence, a line of 5 shillings — if not 
able to pay, the convict to be set in the stocks not more than three 
hours." 

Dcfaiuatioii . If tbimd guilty the oflender to be fined 20 shillings. 
If not paid to be set in the stocks not more than three hours.* 

Robbing Gardens and Orchards. If the prisoner was not able 
to pay his fine to be set in the stocks or whipped at the discretion of 
the Justice, t 

Insolcnce^or Molcnce to Women on the Highway. For first 
offence, whipping not exceeding ten stripes. For second offence, to 
be burnt in the haiid.f 

Petit Larceny. The offender to forfeit treble the value of the 
property stolen, and to be fined not exceeding £5, or whipped not 
more than twenty stripes. If not paid, the culprit to be sold for a 
term of time to be fixed at the discretion of the court. 

The following sentence of one Char/cs jVetvton, convicted of steal- 
ing property of the value of three shillings, is copied from the early 
coiu-t records of (jrafton County. It is here presented as illustrat- 
ing the state of the law in like cases in the times of King George. 
The person froiu whom the property was stolen, and who was 
charged with the duty of selling the culprit into servitude, was Dea. 
yoJm WilloiigJiby, one of the many worthy emigrants from Fiollis, 
to Plymouth just before the \\ar of the Revolution. 

" Grafton, ss. Superior Courts yii>i<-' Terni^ '774- 

" Dominus Rex. \-. Charles Newton. It is considered by the 
Court that the said Charles Newton pay a fine to his Majesty of 



*Col. Laws. p. 31. 
fCoI. Laws, p. 1S9. 



174610 lyZv] '"'■- ''^"^'^ -^^'^ T11B.11: siiM'ouT. 115 

Ten Shillings, or he whipped ten stripes on the naketl l)aek hy llie 
hands of the common whippcr, hetwcen tlie hours of 1 1 o'clock 
A. M., and 2 o'clock, P. M., to-morrow, heing the i6th day of 
June, A. D., 1774. — Also that he pay t(^ John Willoughln nine 
shillings, heing treble the value of the goods stolen and costs of 
prosecution. That in want of the pa) ment of the saitl nine shil- 
lings and cost, he be sold into senitude by the saitl W'illoughby to 
any of his Alajesty's liege subjects for the Term of wSix months 
to commence on the 1 ^ih davof Jmie, A. I). i77Si- ^md that he 
stand committeil till sentence be performed." 

•• Attest, Geougk King, C/'X'." 

TJie Poor a)id f/ict'r Support. By a law of the province (jf 
1 7 19. continued in force till long after the Revolution, all persons 
having dwelt in a town for three months, without being legally 
warned to depart, became inhabitants, and in case of inability to 
support themselves from sickness or other cause, were required to 
be relieved by the town. \^\ the same law the town could protect 
itself from the risk of the liability for the support of all new- 
comers by warning them to leave town within the three months 
after their Hrst coming. By an Act passed in 1771- the time for 
this warning to leave was extended to one year. The warrant for 
this "Warning out," as it was called, was issuetl by the selectmen 
to a constable, commanding the new comer to depart from the 
town within a time fixed in the warrant, and in case of his neglect 
to leave, the law authorized the issuing of a second warrant for hi:^ 
removal to his former residence. If a person so remo\ed after- 
wards returned, he coidd be dealt with as a ■• vagabonil," and sent 
to the house of correction. 

The province laws of the times provided for the election bv 
towns of Overseers of the Poor, and in 1749, Capt. Peter Powers^ 
Zedekiah Drinv. and Nathaniel Townscnd were chosen to that 
(jflice. This is the only instance I find in the earlv records of an 
election to that office, and the instances were vcrv rare in which 
any special tax was levied for the support of the j^oor. The care 
of the poor as well as the protection of the town from the increase 
of paupers by the "Warning out" of new settlers appear to have 
been left wholly to the selectmen. It is very evident from the mauN 
entries upon the records of the issuing and return of these notices 
that this harsh and invidious duty of warning new settlers to lea\ e 



Il6 AFRICAN SI.A\'ERV. [174610x775, 

the town was verv diligently performed by the Hollis selectmen 
and constables from its first settlement, till near the commence- 
ment of the present century. 

The first of these notices found in the records was in June, 17465 
the year of the charter, and was directed to Wid. Mary Blanchard. 
The next in time, now to be found, was dated Julv 6. i749- ^^nd 
served upon James Ferguson and John Thompson, requiring them 
"to depart from the town in 14 davs." Between 1746 and i797 
there are records of nearl}^ two hundred of the like warrants and 
notices, a part of them to single individuals, but much the largest 
Dortion embracing wdiolc families, giving the names of the husband, 
^vife and children. All new comers, indiscriminately, appear to 
liave been exposed to these inhospitable notices, whether likely to 
become paupers or not. As evidence of this lack of discrimination, 
1 find in these warrants between 1767 and 1774, the names of no less 
than seven persons wdio were afterwards Hollis soldiers in the Rev- 
olution, and the like number who had been in the arrn^•, and were 
\varned to leave after the war was ended. It is very evident, how- 
over, that the persons so warned did not ordinarily obey this sum- 
mons to leave, nor does it appear that they were expected to do so, 
as we find in these warrants not only the names of so many Hollis 
soldiers, wdio did not go away, but also the names of many others, 
who were served with the like notices, and afterwards remained, 
and became substantial freeholders and valuable and respected citi- 
zens. It is but just to sa\- that this odious and l)arbarous custom 
had the sanction of a general la%v of the province, and I find no 
reason to believe that it was executed more oflensivel}- in Hollis 
than in other New Hampshire towns. 

S/avcrv- African slaver}- existed in New Hampshire under the 
sanction of the province laws till near the close of the war of the 
Revolution. According to a census taken in 1767- ^^^^ whole pop- 
ulation of the province was 53,700. of w'hich number 3S4 were 
slaves, of whom there were two in Hollis. In i775 ^'""^ wdiole pop- 
ulation of New Hampshire had increased to 83,200. and the slaves 
to 656, of wdiom foin- were in Hollis. 

I am indebted to a granddaughter of Col. David Webster for 
the original deed of sale made to him of tw^o negro slaves. A copy 
of this deed is presented below, showing the mode of transferring 
the supposed legal title to this kind of property in human flesh in 
accordance with the laws then in force in New England. Col. 



1746101775-] AFRICAN SLAVERY. \lj 

Webster was a distinguished New Hampshire oHicer in the war of 
the Rcvokition, who tor some years before the war resided in 
IloUis, and removed from IIolHs to Plymouth about the year ijS^. 
" Know all Men by these Presents that I Jacob Whittier of Mc- 
thuen in the County of Essex in tiie Province of Massachusetts 
Bay, Yeoman, in consideration of the Sum Sixty pounds lawful 
money paid me by David Webster of Plymouth in the Province ot~ 
N. Hampshire, Gent, have sold and by these Presents do sell unto 
the said David Webster, one negro man namcil Cicero, and also one 
Negro Woman, named Dinah, both being servants for life, and 
now in my possession. To have and to hold the said Negroes 
during the natural life of each of them Respectively to the said 
David Webster, his heirs and assigns, according to the common 
usage and Laws of said Provinces. In Witness Whereof I have 
hereunto set my hand and seal the 13th day of December .Vnno 
Domini 1769, in the loth year of liis Majesty's reign. 
Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of us. 



Jacob Whittirr. -I Seal, i 



Eben V. Barker. 
AniGAir, Barker. 



Il8 THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GENERAI, COURT. 



C H A P 'r E R X . 

THE \EW HAMPSHIRE GENERAL COURT. MEMBERS EROM TTOELIS 

AND THE OLD DUNSTABLE TOWNS BEEORE THE REVOI-UTION. 

CONTESTED ELECTION IN 1762. DUTSION OE THE PROVINCE 

INTO COUNTIES. ORGANIZATION OE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, 

COUNTY OFEICERS EROM IIOLLIS. THE PINE TREP: LAW. ITS 

UNPOPULARITY AND TROUBLE IN ENEORCING IT. RIOT AT 

WEARE. GOV. JOHN WP:NTW0RTH. HIS PERSONAL POPU- 
LARITY. ADDRESS EROM THE PEOPLE OE HOLLIS. JURORS 

TO HOLLIS. THE FIRST TRIAL FOR MURDER IN HILLSBOROUGH 

COUNTY. POPULATION BEFORE 1775. I74I TO l77S. 

THE NEW HAMPSIHRE GENERy\L COUR'l . 

From 1741 1 (the year when the new province line was settled) , 
till 1775' the New Hampshire General Coiut consisted of a Gover- 
nor and twelve Councillors appointed bv the King, and a House of 
Representatives varying in nimi1)cr from thirteen to thirty-one, 
elected by the towns. The only member of the Governor's Council, 
from the towns formed out of the territory of Old Dunstable, was 
Col. Joseph Blanchard. a resident of the new town of the same 
name, who was appointed in 1741- 'Hid held his ofHce till his death 
in 1758. 

MEMBERS Ol" THE 7IOUSE FROM HOLLIS AND THE OLD DUNSTABLE 

TOWNS. 

There was no member of the House of Representatives from 
either of the old Dunstable towns till 1752. when Jonathan 
Lovew^ell was chosen for Dunstable and Merrimack. From 176210 
1768 these towns were coupled together and represented as follows: 
1762. Dunstable and Hollis — Dr. John Hale. 

Merrimack and Monson — Joseph Blanchard, Esq. 

Nottingham West and Litchfield — Capt. Samuel Greeley. 
1768. Dunstable and Hollis — Dr. John Hale. 

Merrimack and Monson — Capt. John Chamberlain. 

Nottingham West and Litchfield — -James Underwood, Esq. 



1/4' to 1775.] A eONTKSTEi:) liLFXTIO.N. 119 

I find the following scrap of characteristic political history in 
respect to the election for IloUis and Dunstable in 1762, in the New 
Hampshire Historical Collections (v. 1, p. 57) which is here pre- 
sented as follows : 

••What is now HoUis was formerly the West Parish of Dunsta- 
ble. For a number of years after Hollis was incorporated, the two 
towns were classed together to send a man to represent thein to the 
General Court. Dunstable being the older town, required the Elec- 
tions to be uniformly held there, until Hollis became the most 
populous, when it was requested by Hollis that they should be held 
in those towns alternately, that Each might have an Equal chance. 
But Dunstable did not consent to this proposal. Hollis feeling 
some resentment, mustered all its forces, leaving at liome scarcely 
man or horse. Previouslv to this time the person cnoscn had been 
uniformly selected from Dunstable. But on this occasion the peo- 
ple of Dunstable, finding thev were outnumbered, their town clerk 
mounted a pile of shingles and called on the inhabitants to bring in 
their votes for Moderator for Dunstable. The town clerk of Hollis 
moimted another pile and called on the inhabitants of Dunstable 
and Hollis to bring in their votes for Moderator for Dunstable and 

Hollis. The result was that Lovewell, Esq., was declared 

Moderator for Dunstable and Dea. Francis Worcester Moderator 
for Dunstable and Hollis. Each Moderator proceeded in the same 
manner to call the votes for Representative. Jonathan Lovewell, 
Esq.." was declared chosen to represent Dunstable and Dr. John Hale 
was declared chosen to represent Dunstable and Hollis. Accord- 
inglv both repaired to Portsmouth to attend the General Court. 
Lovewell was allowed to take his seat, and Hale rejected. Hale, 
bowever, instead of returning home, took measures to acquaint the 
Governor with what had transpired and waited the issue. It was 
not long before Secretarv Theodore Atkinson came into the House 
and proclaimed aloud. • I have special orders from his Excellency to 
dissolve this House : Accordingly you are dissolved." • (iod 
save the King.'' " 

It appears from the Journal of the House that the election of 
both Lovewell and Hale was set aside, and the House immediately 
dissolved by the Governor. A very few days after, a second elec- 
tion was held, and Hale was returned by the sherifl". and at once 
obtained his seat without further objection.* 



*Prov. Papers, Vol. 6, p. 806. 



J20 ORGANIZATION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. [l??!- 

Dr. Hale was afterwards re-elected and continued to represent 
Hollis and Dunstable till 1/68, when he was succeeded by Col. 
Samuel Hobart, who, as appears from the Journal, represented 
Hollis oidy for the next six years till the Revolution. In 1767 Dr. 
Hale was Lieut. Colonel of the Regiment of Militia to which HoLlis 
was attached, and Col. Hobart, Major of the same regiment. In 
1775, Hale was appointed Colonel of tliat regiment, and Hobart 
Colonel of the Second New Hampshire Regiment of Minute Men, 
ordered to be raised by the New Hampshire Provincial Congress in 
September, 1775.* 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

Before the Revolution, Justices of the Peace as well as the (jov- 
ernor and Council held their commissions, as Magistrates, from the 
King. The only pej"sons in Hollis known or supposed to have 
1)een so commissioned were Samuel Cumiiigs, Sen., the first Tow'u 
clerk, his son Samuel Cumings, Jun., John Hale, Samuel Hobart 
and L3enjamii\ Whiting, the first sherifi' of Hiilsliorough County. 
Samuel Cumings, Jun., and Whiting were Loyalists or Tories, and 
are supposed to have left the State early in 1777 and never after- 
wards returned, and together with Thomas Cinuings, a brother of 
the former, were proscribed by an act of the A'ew liampshire 
General Court passed- in 177S, forbidden to return and their 
estates confiscated.! 

ORGANIZATION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. 

Previously to 1771 there had been no division of New Hampshire 
into counties. Till that vear the province, in law. was Init a single 
county, and the courts of law, as well as the sessions of tlie (jcn- 
cral Court, were ordinarily held at Portsmouth, ne»ir the S. E. cor- 
ner of the province. That part of New Hampshire between the 
Merrimack and Connecticut rivers had for many years been largely 
settled, and the settlers west of the Merrimack had for a long time 
been greatly dissatisfied with the inconvenience, dela\s and ex- 
pense incident to their being so remote from the courts of justice 
and seat of government. As early as 1754 tlie people of Hollis, 
with a very large portion of the settlers west of the ISIerrimack. 
united in petitions to the General Court setting forth their grievances. 

''Prov. Papers, Veil, i'., pp. (jo;, dji. 
fBclkniip's Hist'iiy of \. II., l>.',5Si. 



177--] T>>'- i'i>iV: TRKK I.AW. 



121 



aiul piayin<^ for a division of the pro\ iiicc into counties. But 
no such division was made till 1771. On the 19th of March of that 
year the General Court passed an act dividing the province into the 
live original counties of Rockingham, StraiVord, Hillsborough, 
Grafton and Cheshire. These counties were so named by Gover- 
nor Wentworth in honor of some of his friends in England con- 
nected with the English government.* 

The county of Hillsborough was organized the same year, with 
the county seat at Amherst. The town meeting in Hollis, held in 
x\ugust of that year, "Voted to raise £100, for a prison at Amherst, 
provided it should be built on the South side of the Souhegan 
river." 

Two of the Hrst Judges of the Court of Sessions for the county 
were Matthew Thornton, of Merrimack, and Samuel Hobart, of 
IloUis. Benjamin Whiting, also of Ilollis, was the first high 
Sheriir, and Hobart the first county Treasurer and Register of 
Deeds, his ofHce being kept in Hollis. 

rilK PIXE TREE LAW, ITS UNPOPULARITY AXD TROUBLE IN 

EXFORCIXG IT. 

It will be remembered by the careful reader of the town char- 
ter of Hollis that all IVkite Pi)ic Trees growing within the town 
and fit "for the I'oyal navy" were reserved to the King for that 
use. The same reservations of white pine trees for the like pur- 
pose were made in other New Hampshire town charters granted 
by the royal governors. As early as 1722, the New Hampshire 
General Court passed an act making it a penal offence for any 
person to cut White Pine Trees of twelve inches in diameter and 
over, a law that was continued in force till the Revolution. By this 
law the fine for cutting such trees of 12 inches in diameter was £5, 
— 12 to 18 inches in diameter, £10, — from iS to 24 inches, £20, — 
exceeding 24 inches, £^0, — and all lumber made from trees unlaw- 
fully cut was forfeited to the King.f 

It may \yell be supposed that this law was not popular with the 
New Hampshire owners of saw mills, and farmers whose lands 
abounded with those trees, which were quite as useful and needful 
for the dwelling-houses and meeting-houses of the inhabitants as 
for the King's navy. At the time Hillsborough County was 

•Belknap, p. 344. 

fCol. Laws, pp. 226, 229. 



122 PINE TREE RIOT AT WEARE. [iTT^- 

organized, Gov. John Wentvvorth held the office of •' Surveyor oj 
the Ki?i^\s ll^oods" coupled with the iiuthority and duty of enforc- 
ing this hated law, and he had in different parts of the province his 
deputies to aid in its execution. It was among the duties of these 
debilities, at the expense of the land owner, to mark all of the 
Ki}ig' s Pine Trees^ on land proposed to be cleared, before the 
owner should begin his clearing. If lumber made from the 
King's trees, marked or unmarked, was found at saw-mills or else- 
where, it was made the duty of the deputies to seize and sell it for 
the benefit of his Majesty's treasury- 

PINE TREE RIOT IN WEARE. 

In the spring of 1773 an incident occurred in the town of Weare, 
in the northerly part of Hillsborough county, that well illustrates 
the bitter and settled hostility of public sentiment to this odious 
law. A citizen of that town of the name of jMitdgctt^ with others, 
had been charged In' a deputy surveyor with unlawfulh' cutting the 
king's trees, the lumber made from which was then at one of the 
saw-mills in Weare. A complaint was made against the offender 
and a warrant issued for his arrest, and put into the hands of Sherifl' 
Whiting for execution. The slieriti", taking with him an assistant, 
repaired forthwith to Weare and made prisoner (jf the accused. 
The arrest being late in the afternoon, the prisoner suggested that if 
the officer would wait till the next morning he would furnish the 
necessar\ bail for liis appearance to the next court. The sheriH' 
acquiesced in this suggestion, and he, with his assistants, went to a 
tavern near bv to ])ass the night. 'I'he coming of the sheritV, with 
the nature (jt his mission, to Weare. was very soon made known to 
the townsmen of the accused, wiio. to the number of twenty or 
more, met together, and during the night made their plans for bail 
of a ditrerent sort from that understood by the sheriff the evening 
before. Very earlv in the morning, while the sherifi' was yet in 
bed, he was roused from his slumbers by his prisoner who told him 
that his bail was \vaiting at his door. Whiting complained at being 
so early disturbed in Jiis slumbers. The ])roposc(l liail, however, 
witliout ^vaiting to listen t(j anv com})laints of tiiis kind, promptly 
entered liis sleeping-ioom. each, lurnished with a tough, flexible 
switch, an implement better adapted for making his mark upon the 
back of the sheriH' than for writing the name of the bail at the 
foot of a bail bond. Without allowing their victim time to dress 



177--] r'lNK TREK RIOT AT WKARE. 1 23 

himself, one of the compam . as is said, held him by his hands, and 
another by his feet, while the rest in turn proceeded to make their 
marks upon the naked back of the sherifl' more to their own satis- 
faction than for his comfort or dcli<jht. Having in this way, as they 
said, squared and crossed out their pine tree accounts with the 
principal, they afterwards settled substantially in like manner with 
his assistant. Having in this manner satisfied their accounts with 
these officials their horses were led to the door of the tavern, ready 
saddled and bridled, with their manes, tails and ears closely 
cropped, and their owners invited to mount and leave. Being slow 
to do so. thev were assisted upon their horses by some of the com- 
pany and in that plight rode awa\- from Weare. followed by the 
shouts and jeers of the rioters. 

The sheriff was not of a temper to overlook or forgive such gross 
abuse and insults. He at once appealed to the colonels of the two 
nearest regiments of militia, and with their aid called out the posse 
contitatus. who, armed with muskets, marched to Weare to arrest 
the offenders. The rioters for the time disappeared, but afterwards 
surrendered themselves, or were arrested, and eight of them were 
indicted for assault and riot, at the. September Term of the Superior 
Court, 1773. At that term they were arraigned and all pleaded 
that they "would not farther contend with our Lord the King but 
would submit to his Grace." Upon this plea the court fined them 
the very moderate sum of twenty shillings eacli with cost. This 
very slight punishment for such an outrage upon the high sherifl, 
when executing the legal process of the court, would seem to indi- 
cate that the symi:>athies of the bench were quite as much with the 
prisoners at the bar and popular sentiment, as with the sheriff' and 
the Pine tree law. This law as it was enforced was more oppres- 
sive and offensive to the people of those times than the .Stamp tax 
and Tea tax, and there is little doubt that the attempted execution 
of it contributed quite as much as eitlicr or both of those laws to 
the remarkable unanimity of the New Hampshire yeomanry in 
their hostility to the British Government in the civil war that soon 
followed. 

CHARACTER OF GOVERNOR WENTWORTir. 

Notwithstanding Governor Wentw^orth continued to hold this 
odious office of '• Surveyor of the King's Woods," he was personally 
verv popular with the people of New Hampshire till the out-break 



124 ADDRESS TO GOV. JOHN WENTWORTH. [l772« 

of the war, when, still adhering to the cause of the King, he left 
the country. Mr. .Saliine, in his Biographies of the Tories of the 
Revolution, says of him : 

''That his talents were of a high order, his judgment sound, and 
his views liberal. That he was a friend of learning, gave to 
Dartmouth College its Charter, did much to encourage Agriculture 
and to promtjte the settlement of tlie province ; Zealously labored 
to increase its importance, and at the last retired from his official 
trusts with a character uninipeached. and with the respect of his 
political opponents.*" 

Still, in the face of this great popularity, Peter Livius, one of his 
council, having been disappointed in his ambition for office, became 
his bitter enemy, and in the summer of 1/7-'' iii''<^lc> complaint 
against the governor to the home government, charging him, among 
other things, with oppression in otfice and corrupt interference with 
the courts of justice. 

COMPr,IME.\'TARV ADDRESS TO (k)VERNOR WENT W( )iirH. 

In reference to this attack upon Coveinor \Vent\\()rth, the people 
of Hollis, at their annual town meeting in 1773^ unanimously Noted 
a highly complimentan' address to him, the most of which is copied 
in the following extracts from the record oi' the meeting: 

•• A/ay il please voiir lixccllciicy : 

'•• We, the inhabitants of Holies, being assembled at our amuial 
town meeting, having been informed that Peter Li\ius, Esq.. lias 
presented a memorial to tlie Lords of Trade. '■ * wherein it is 
signified that vour Excellency, together with the Honorable Council, 
have obstructed the channels of Justice in this Province. &c., &c. 

* * We, the Inhabitants of Holies, being sensible of the many 
obligations this county and Province are under to \ our Excellency, 
for the repeated and continued instances of \ oiu' goodness to them 

* * in all respects but more especiallv in }our unwearied endeav- 
ors that Justice might be didy and impartially administered ; * * 
We beg leave to assure your Excellency that we shall hold ourselves 
in the greatest readiness to Iiear testimony against all such false 
aspersions of your Excellency's administiation. and think ourselves 
in duty bound to give our \(Mce publickly — and we do it cheertully 
and sincerely in favor of your Excellency's Administration * * * 

*Sabine, Vol. 2, |). 411. 



177--] FIRST IIIIAL lOH MIUDKK AI' AM1IKR.ST. 1^5 

and wo lVa\ e no doubt that it lias been to the satisfaction of the 
people of this county and province * * We beg leave to add that 
it is our earnest desire that the Divine Blessing may attend your 
Excellency, and that you may be continuctl in the important place 
you now fill for many years to come. 

'•Voted that Hon. Samuel Ilobarl and Col. John Hale, Esq.. 
wait on his Excellency with this address." 

ITHST JintOltS FROM lIOl.LIS. 

The names of the inst and onl\- jurors from Hollis. to the courts 
held at Portsmouth, to be found in the records are underthe date of 
July 24. 1769. when Ensign Stephen Ames was '■^chosen'''' Grand 
Juror and Noah Worcester. Petit Juror. The first Superior Court 
for Hillsborough Count}' was held at Amherst in September, 1771- 
The Grand Jurors from Hollis for this court were Lt. Reuben Dow 
and William Ncvins — Petit Jurors. Capt. Joshua Wright and Dea, 
Stephen Jcwett. 

riKST TmAI, FOR MIRDER AT AMHERST. 

The first trial for a capital crime in Hillsborough Countv was that 
of Israel \\'ilkins, Jun.. of Hollis, who was tried upon an indictment 
found against him by the Grand Jury in vSeptember, 1773. charging 
him with the murder of his father, Israel Wilkins, Sen., at Hollis. 
Nov 2, 1772. It appears from the proceedings and indictment that 
this homicide was tlie rcjsult of a sudden quarrel, in which the de- 
ceased was mortally wounded, "by a blow upon the head with a 
certain billet of wood in the hand of the defendant of the value 3d. 
thereby giving the said deceased upon his left temple, a mortal wound, 
of the length of three inches and the depth of one inch, of which 
mortal wound the said deceased, after languishing for the space of 
tliree days, then and there died." So says the indictment. 

The jury upon the evidence found the defendant guilty of juan- 
slaughtcr ow\\ , that crime being at that time punishable with death, 
the same as premeditated murder. The record of the trial, after 
reciting the arraignment and plea of the prisoner, the doings of the 
court, and the verdict of the jury, concludes as follows: ''It being 
demanded of the said Israel Wilkins. Jun., Why sentence of Death 
should not be passed upon him. the said Wilkins prayed the bcncjit 
of clergy, which was granted. Whereupon the prisoner, the said 
Wilkins, was burned with a hot iron in the form of the letter T. on 



125 POPULATION. ['77^- 

the brawny part ot the thumb of his left liaiul, and it is further con- 
sidered that tlie said Wilkins forfeit all his Goods and Chattels t<^ 
the King." 

Not havino- space in this connection to speak of the <n"igin and 
history of the ancient popish plea of the '' Benetit of Clergy." 1 
take lea\ e to refer the reader, who is curious in such inc^uiries, t(» 
Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England (vol. 4, p. 364.) 
He would most likely search in vain the New Hampshire court 
records, as also those of any other American State, for any case in 
which such a plea has been allowed for the last hundred years. 
Without further comment I leave the matter as I i]nd it to the curi- 
osity of the bar. and for the •' benefit of the clergy " of oiu" times. 

POPL'LATIOX BEFORE THE RE\OLUTION'. 

I do not find that an} census was taken of Hollis prior to 1767, 
Before that year the best approximation to the number of its inhab- 
itants is to be found in the annual tax-lists. The number of names 
in those lists in tiie years mentioned below \\ as as follows ; 

J74'^' 7.V '7fio> 'A^ '755- 107. 17(0, 117. 1765, 131- '767. 161. 

By the Provincial census, taken in 1767. the population of the 
old Dunstable towns was as below : 

Dun.st;iMe, 520. Merrimack, 400. .Nottini;h:iin West, 583. 

Holies, Sfx). Litchfield, 234. Mcinsnii, 29S. 

At that time Dunstable had four sla\cs. Hollis and Nottingham 
West two each, Litchtield twelve, Merrimack three, Monson none. 

In 1775. in September of that year, a second census w^as taken 
by the New Hampshire convention. The following statistics relat- 
ing to the old Dunstable towns are taken from that census : 

Dunstable, whole pop., 705. Men in the aniiv. 40. Slaves, 7. 

Hollis, •' " 1.255. " '■ " '■ 'w- " 4- 

Litchfield, " " 2S4. " " " " 13. " 10. 

Merrimack, " " 606. " •' " " ig. " i ;. 

Nottingham West, " " 649. '■ " " •• 22. " 4. 

Total, .'vt*'- 154. 3S. 

Before the taking of that census, Hollis iiad lost eleven of her 
.soldiers, of whom nine had been killed, and tAvo died of disease. 

THE SETTLEMENT OF PLVMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE. A HOLLI.s 

COLONY. 

The war for the conquest of Canada ended in 1761. Many of 
the soldiers from Hollis wdio had been in that war, in their toilsome 
marches through the northern wilderness, had become acquainted 



1765.] SKTTLKMENT AT PLYMOUTH. 12/ 

witli the line country on the upper branches of the Connecticut and 
Merrimack. They returned to tlicir homes with so favorable im- 
pressions of that part of New Hampshire, that in the fall of 1762. 
a party of eif^ht men from HoUis went to what is now Plymouth, 
to explore the country with a view to settlement there. This ex- 
ploration, with their report of it, residtcd the next year in obtain- 
ing a charter of the town of Plymouth from Benning Wentworth, 
then Governor, dated July 16, 1763. Of about sixty jriantees 
named in this charter, near two-thirds were Ilollis men. Emigra- 
tion from Ilollis at once commenced, and within the next three 
years a large numlier of the former residents of Ilollis became set- 
tlers in Plymouth, of whom many were afterwards known as in- 
fluential and respected citizens of that town. Among them were 
Col. David Ilobart, afterwards distinguished for his bravery and 
good conduct as the Colonel of a New Hampshire Regiment imder 
Gen. Stark at the battle of Bennington, and Col. David Webster, 
who commanded a Regiment of New Hampshire troops at the 
taking of Bin-goyne at Saratoga, and was aftei-vvards sherift' of 
Grafton County. Besides the foregoing, there were Dea. Francis 
Worcester, for many years a deacon of the Hollis chiu'ch and town 
treasurer, and afterwards a representative to the General Court from 
Plymouth in the war of the Revolution ; also three Captains of 
companies in the army, viz. : Jotham Cumings, John Willoughby 
and Amos Webster, the last of whom was killed at the battle at 
Saratoga in the command of a company of infantry attached to Col. 
Morgan's famous rifle corps.* 

*New Hampshire Hist. Coll., Vol. 3, p. 374. 



128 EARLY SETTLERS OF HOLLIS. [l730tO 1 760. 



C H A P T E R X 1 . 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF A PORTION OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 
OF HOLLIS PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF THE FRENCH WAR OF 1 754- 

ABBOT, CAPT. BENJAMIN 

was fi-oni Amli)vcr, Mass. His name was on the Hollis Tax 
Lists in 1750- I" ^755 '^^ "^^'^^ Lieutenant in Capt. Power's corn- 
pan}'. Col, l^lanchard's regiment, in the expedition to Crown Point, 
and was again in the army in 1757. He was selectman in 1752, 
'53 and '54. 11 '.s son Benjamin was a soldier in the Revolution. 
Diedjaniiary5, 1776, ffit. 46. 

ADAMS, WILLIAM 

was in West Dunstable in 173S, and signed the petition for the 
charter of West Dunstable. Married INIary vSpears, Ma}- 29, 1744. 
Was a town officer in 1746. His son William \vas a soldier at Bim- 
kcr Hill and Bennington. Died August 3. 17^7- ^^t. 39. 

AMES. ENSIGN STEPHEN 

came from Groton, Mass. JNIarried Jane Robbins in Groton. in 
1 731. Was in West Dunstable in 1739, selectman in 1747 and 
1748, and was a soldier in the French war in 1757. Re2)resentati\e 
to the New Hampshire General Court, in 17/=;, '76 and '77. His 
sons Jonathan and David were soldiers in the Revolution. 

BALL, EBENEZER 

came from Concord. Mass. His name was on the Hollis Tax List 
in 1749^ iiiifl he was a soldier in the French war in 17=5^, in the 
comjoany of Capt. Powers. His sons Ebenezer. Nathaniel, Wil- 
liam and John were soldiers in the Revolution. 

BAILEY, DANIEL 

was from Marlborough, Mass. Settled in the part of Hollis known 
as Monson, al>out the year 1754. Himself and three of his sons, 
viz. Joel, Andrew and Daniel, Jun., were Revolutionary soldiers. 
Died January 15. 1798, act. 69. 



1730 to 1760.] F.AFir.'S' SKTTLERS OF HOI.MS. I 29 

IJAinoN, HKNKV 

was ill West Dunstable in 1738 and signed the petition for the char- 
ter. Was Pari sli Assessor in 1741 and Collector in 1743. Died 
April 20, 1760, a3t. 54. 

BI.ANCIIARD, BENJAMIN 

is supposed to have come from Dunstable, N. II. He was in West 
Dunstable, in 1743, and signed the call to Rev. Mr. Emerson. 
Married Kezia Hastings Dec. 31, 1744. Was tithing-man in 1747^ 
and selectman in 1750 and 1754. 

ULOon, KLNAIHAN 

supposed from Groton, Mass. His name is on the first tax list 
for West Dunstable, in 1740. Married Elizabeth Boynton in 
Groton, in 1741. He was a soldier in the French war in i757' ''i"<^l 
selectman in i 773. 

BLOOD, JOSIAIl 

was from Dracut, Mass. Was in West Dunstable in 173S and 
signed the petition for the charter ; was a soldier in the Revolution, 
as was also his son Josiah. Jr.. and is suj^poscd to have died at Ti- 
conderoga in September. 1776. 

BLOOD. NATHANIEL 

•supposed from Groton. Mass. He was in West Dunstable in 173S 
and signed the petition for the cliarter. and was a soldier in the 
French war in 1758. Five of his sons, viz., Nathaniel. Francis, 
Daniel, Timothy and Nathan, were soldiers in the Revolution, the 
last named of whom was killed at i3unkcr Hill. 

BOVNTf)N, DEA. JOHN 

supposed from Newbury, Mass. Was in West Dunstable in 1743 ; 
parish clerk in 1744. Married Ruth Jcwett of Rowley in 1745. 
Chosen deacon in 1755, and selectman in 17^8. 1761. and 1762, etc. 
His sons John and Jacob were soldiers in the Revolution, the last 
of whom was killed at Bunker Hill. Died Oct. 29, 17S7, xt. 67. 

ROVNTON, JR.. JOHN 

supposed also from Newbury. He was in West Dunstable in 
1745. Married Lydia Jewett of Rowley, in May. '745- His sons, 
Isaac and loel, were Revolutionarv soldiers. 
(9) 



130 EARLY SETTLERS OK HOLLIS. [l7.SO to 1 760. 

BOVXTON. JOSHUA 

was in West Dunstable in 174S' '^^^^ •' town otHcer in 1747. Three 
of his sons, viz., Joshua, |un.. Benjamin and Elias, were soldiers in 
the Revolution. 

■BROWN, ENSKJN, JOSIAH 

came Irom Salem, Mass., and was in West Dunstable in 1.743. '^"^^ 
a town officer in 1747 iiUfl i74^- ^^^ ^"^'^^ '^^ ensign in the French 
Wixr in 175S. Removed to Plymouth, N. H.. in 1764. 

BKOWX, j(JJI\ 

was also from Salem, and was in West Dunstable in 1743 and 
signed the call to Rev. Mr. Emerson. Married Kezia Wheeler 
October 9, 1744. Died May 6, 1776. 

BURGE, EPJIKAIM 

was from Chelmsford, Mass. .Settled in HoUis about 1760. Was 
a soldier in Capt. Emerson's company in i777- ^'^ oldest son 
Ephraim B., Jun., was for many vears a deacon of the Hollis 
church, and his sons, Rev. Josiaii B. and Dr. Benjamin B., were 
graduates of Harvard College. (q. v.) Died July 3i, 17S4, 
:pt. 46. 

CONAXr. 1 OS I All 

was from Salem, Mass. Came to West Dunstable in 1744. Mar- 
ried Catharine Emerson, February, 1745. His two sons, Josiah, 
Jun., and Abel, were soldiers in the Revolution, and both deacons 
of the Hollis church. Died December 14, 1756, ;et. 44. 

COLBUKX, LHtUr. KOBERT 

came from Billerica, Mass., was in West Dunstal)le in 1738, and 
signed the petition for the charter. Married Elizabeth vSniith in 
1747. Settled in the part of Hollis known as Monson. His sons, 
Robert, Benjamin and Nathan, were Revolutionary soldiers. Died 
July 9, 1783. a?t. 66. 

Cl'MINGS, ESq^.. SAMUEL 

was born in Groton, Mass., March 6, 1709; married Prudence 
Lawrence of Groton, July iS, 1732. Was in West Dunstable in 
1 739 and signed the second petition tor the charter. He was the 
first justice of the peace in Hollis and was chosen town clerlv 
in twenty-two different years, between 1746 and 1770. He was 



1^3^ to 1760.] . KAIU.V SlCTTMir.S 01 IIOI.I.IS. I^I 

sergeant in Capt. I'oweis's coinpauN in the Freneli war in 1755- 
Two of liis sons. Saniutl aiul Tlionias. were lo\aIists in the Revo- 
hition, and Benjamin, his voungest sun. was a Continental sohlier. 
Died January 18, 177.:. a-l. 62. 

Cl'Ml.ViiS, JKRAIIMAKI, 

was a l)r<>ther oi' .Samuel Ciuuings, and horn in Cjroton. Octolier 10. 
1711. Married Hannah FarwcU in 1736; was in West Dunstable 
in 1738, and signed the first petition for the cliarter. He was the 
father of Re\ . Henr\ Cinnings, D. D.. the first minister of Bil- 
lerica, and of Capt. Jotham Cumings, a soldier in the French w ar 
of 1755- and an officer in the war of the Revolution. Died Octolier 
25, 1747, ict. 36. 

CUMINGS, DEA. WILLIAM 

is supposed to have come from Groton. and was in West Dimstable 
in 1744. and chosen Deacon of the Hollis cluuch in 1745. He was 
ensign in the French war in 17^^- in the company of Capt. Powers, 
and all his three sons, Ebcnezer. W illiam and Philij). were soldiers 
in the Revolution. Died vSeptember 9. 1758. ict. 46. 

DANKOKTII, lONATlIAX 

came tVom Billerica. and was m West Dunstable in 1743. and signed 
the call to Rev. Mr. limerson. He was a grandson of the noted 
Massachusetts siuveyor of the same name, and was a town officer iir 
1746. Died March 3. 1747. ;et. 33. 

DINSMOm:, THOMAS 

came from Bedford, Mass., was in W^cst Dunstable previous to 1736. 
and was the third settler, and lived on the farm in Hollis now owned 
by John Coburn on the road to Pepperell. Died December 10. 174S. 

OKri;V, ZKOEKIAII 

was also trom Bedford, and by trade a blacksmith ; was in West 
Dunstable in 1743, and signed the call to Mr. Emerson. About the 
year 1765 he removed to Temple, N. H. 

FARLKV, LIEUT. SAMIKL 

came from Bedford. Mass.. was in West Dunstable in i'jyj- and was 
a petitioner for the charter. Married Hannah Brown October 7, 
1744. His son Benjamin was a .soldier in the Revolution. Died 
November 23. 1797. a-t. 79. 



IT,2 EAKLV SETTLERS OF IIOI.I.IS. [l730 to 1 760. 

lAULKV. 1,1 EIT. r.EXJA.MIX 

was also from Ik-dtorcl. Was in West Dunstable in 1 73S and a 
])etitioner tor the charter and was the tirst iini keeper in West Dun- 
stable. He lived tirst on the tarni now owned by T. G. Worcester, 
about one-fourth of a mile south of the meeting-house. He was 
parish assessor in 1740 and 1741. and selectman in 1746. Three of 
his sons. El)enezer. Christopher and Stephen, were Revolutionary 
soldiers. Died November 33, 1797- in his Soth vear. 

FAIM.K^', JOSEPH 

came from 15illcrica. and was in West Dunstable in 1743. Killed 
bv the fall of a tree. November 24. 1763. a't. 4(). 

ii.Ac.c. i:i.K. \zf:i; 

came from Concord. Mass.. and was the second settler in West 
Dunstable. lie li\ed in the south-west pAV{ of the town, and during 
the P'rench war of 1744 his house was tortilied as a guard house. 
He was parisii assessor in i74-- ^''^ ^*"i John was a soldier in the 
French war. i7S^- and his son lonas in that of the Re\(4ution. 
Died August 14. 17^7. ;i't. ^3. 

ilAl;l)^. i'iii.\i;as 

came to lloUisfrom Hradtord, Mass. Ilis name is lirst on thelloUis 
tax lists in 17^2. lie was a soldier in the garrison at Poi"tsmouth, 
N. H.. in 1776. and his sons. I'hineas. Thomas. Noah and [esse, 
were all sokliers in the army. Died March 7. KS13. a:;t. 86. 

HARRIS. STEI'IIEX 

was from Littleton. Mass.. and settled in what is now the north- 
part of Hollis about 173s. He was a petitioner for the charter of 
West Dunstable in 173N. and first treasurer of A\'est Dunstable in 
[740. Died Se]:)tember 20. i77^- a't. 7^- 

JEWETT, DEA. STEIMIEX 

is sup]jose(.l to lia\e come to Hollis from Ro\\le\. Mass.. in 17SI1 
and married Hannah (Farwell) Cumings. Axidow of Ensign Jcrah- 
mael Cumings, in 17V-- He was chosen selectman in 1766. deacon 
of the Hollis church in 1770. and a delegate to the Count\' Con- 
gress at Amherst in i774 and 1775. All of his three sons. Steph- 
en, Jun.. Noah and Jonathan, were sokliers in the Revoluti(^n, 
Diet! May 23. 1S03, ;rt. 75. 



1730 to 1760.] KARI.Y SKITLKHS IN IIOI.I.IS. 1^3 

KKMl'. ZKIMBHABKI, 

was born in Groton. Mass., October 12. 1705. Married Abigail 
Lawrence, in Groton, November 23. 1737. N\ :is in West Dunsta- 
ble in 1743. and a town officer in 174S. 

M( DONAl.D. JAMES 

also came tVom (jroton and was in West l^unslalile in 1739. and a 
signer ot' the seconil petition for the charter. lie was a town officer 
in 174S and a soldier in 1777 in the company ot" Capt. Goss. Died 
April I I . i.Soi . let. 83. 

NK\1NS. WILLIAM 

i;ame from Xcwton, Mass.. and his name appears in the Hrst tax list 
in West Dunstable in 1740. He was selectman in 1771 and 1^/2. 
and moderator in 1773 and 1774. Five of his sons. viz.. \\ illiam. 
Joseph. Benjamin. John and Phineas. were Revolutionar\ soldiers. 
Died February 15. 17S5. let. 67. 

m:\ins. Dwin 

was from Bedford. Alass.. and was in West Dunstal)le in i 73S and 
signed the first petition for the charter. He was parish collector in 
1741. Removed from Hollis to Plymouth among the first settlers 
of Plymouth. 

NOVKS. DEA. ENOCH 

came from Newbury, Mass. His name first appears on the Hollis 
tax lists in i747- He was selectman in ij^i- and chosen deacon in 
1755. His two sons, Enoch and Elijah, were soldiers in the Revo- 
lution. Died Se])teniber 1796. ;et. 80. 

1" All II. DKA. rilONfAS 

was from Groton. Married .\.mia Gilson in 1741. in Groton. He 
was in West Dunstable in i743- and was chosen deacon in 1745. 
His sons. Thomas and Da\ id. were soldiers in the Revolution. 
Died May 1. 1754. a-t. 40. 

rool.. W II.I.IAM 

was iVom Reading. Mass. Married Hannah XichoK. at Reading. 
June 19. 1751. and came to Hollis during the French war of 1754. 
his name being first found on the Hollis tax lists in 17^8. lie was 
selectman in 1771. Dietl in H(dlis. October 27. 1795. a-t. 70. His 
oldest son. William W .. was a soldier in the Re\(»lulion in 1 77^. and 



134 KAUI.V SKTTLKliS IN HOLLIS. {_^7^0 to 1760, 

a^ain in 177^- James, the second son. settled in Maine, and be- 
came a successful merchant. His voungest son. Hon. Benjamin 
Pool, born January 17. 1771- settled in Ilollis. and was manv times 
clioscn to important town offices. He was justice of the peace from 
j8ioto 1822. and justice of the peace and cjuorum from 1S22 till his 
tlecease. lie was also rej^resentativc to the New Hampshire 
General Court from 1804 to 1809. and wState senator in the years 
1818. "ic). "20 and '21. Beside these three sons. Mr. Pool had 
ele\en daughters, ten of whom lived to adult age. and were all 
married, and most of them became the mothers of large families, 
lie died .\pril 20. 1836. ;rt. 6=;. 

POWKKS. CAl'T. I'KriCIt 

'.\a> the first settler in Hollis. Was liorn in Littleton. Mass.. and 
married Anna Keyes of Chelmsford in 1728. .Settled in West Dun- 
stable in 1730. He was parish committee in 1740 and held many 
other important parish anfl town offices. He was the first Captain 
ot the West Dunstable militia, the commander of an expedition to 
explore the Coos country in 1754. and captain of the Hollis com- 
pany in the ex])edition to Crown P(jint in 17^^- Stephen. Whit- 
comb and Levi, three of his sons, were soldiers in the French war 
in the same c(jmpany : and four of them. viz.. vStephen. Francis. 
Xahum and Samson ^vere soldiers in the Re\"oliition. Died August 
22. 1757. ;et. 56. 

PROCTOK. MOSES 

came trom Chelmsford. Mass. Was in West Dunstable in 1738. 
and signed the first petition for the charter. Lie settled in the wx^st 
part of the town on Proctor hill, \vhich was named for him. His 
name is found on the hrst West Dunstable tax list in 1740. and he 
was selectman in 1749. The life of ]\fr. Proctor is said to have 
been shortened by the bite of a rattlesnake, and he afterwards waged 
so successful a war of extermination against those reptiles that no 
rattlesnakes have been known in Hollis since his death. Died 
May 21. 1780. a-t. 73. 

TAVLOK. ABRAHAM 

was born in Concord. Mass.. and came to West Dunstable pre\ i- 
ously to 173S. and was agent of the inhabitants with Capt. Powers in 
obtaining the charter. In 1740 he gave the land for the Hollis 
meeting-house, burial ground and commcMi. He was parish asses- 
sor in 1740. '41. '42 and '43. Died June 3. 1743. it't. 36. 



l7;^Ot(» 1760.] KAIU.^ SEiri.KKS IN MOLLIS. I3; 

TEN\\, W II.I.IAM 

canic to Ilollis fnjin RdwIcv. ^liiss. His name iippears first t>n the 
Hollis tax lists in 1747. He was selectman in 1769 and 1770. 
His son. Capt. William Tenny. was a soldier in the Revolution. 
Died March 22. 1783. ict. 61. 

WHEELER, PETEK 

i> said to have come from Salem, Mass.. and settled in the part of 
Hollis known as Monson. He was a petitioner for the charter of 
West Dunstable in 1738. and his name was on the first West Dun- 
stable tax list in 1740. He is said to have been noted in his day for 
his exploits and success in hunting, especially of bears. He was a 
soldier in the French war in 1755. and his sons, Ebenezer and 
Lebbeus. were soldiers in the Revolution. Died March 28. 1772, 
ast. 67. 

WILLOLGIIBV, JOHN 

came from Billerica. He was in West Dunstable in 1745 'ind was a 
soldier in the French war. in the years 1755, i757- ^md i75^- ^'^ 
son, John W.. Jim., was a captain in the \var of the Revolution in 
the regiment of Col. Webster. Died Februar\ 2. 1793. a^t. 8v 

W'ORCESTER. REV. FRANCLS 

was born in Bradford, Mass.. June 7. 1698. Married Abigail 
Carleton. of Rowley, in 1720. Was settled as a Congregational 
minister in Sandwich, Mass., for ten years before coming to Hollis. 
Removed to Hollis in 1750. Afterwards preached as an evangelist 
in New Hampshire, but was not again settled in the ministry. He 
was the author of a small volume of '' Meditations " in verse, written 
in his sixtieth year. Also of several moral and religious essays 
reprinted in 1760, entitled •* A Bridle for Sinners and a Spur for 
Saints." His oldest son was Dea. Francis Worcester. His second 
son, Jesse, was a soldier in the French war, was taken prisoner, 
and died at Montreal, in 1757. His youngest son was Capt. Noah 
Worcester. Died October 14. 1783. a't. 85. 

WORCESTER. DKA. K15ANCIS 

was the oldest son of Rev. Francis Worcester. Born at Bradford, 
March 30, 1721. Married Hannah Boynton, of Newbury. Mass.. 
October 28, 1741. Came to W^est Dunstable in 1744. Was chosen 
deacon of the Hollis church in 1746. He was selectman in Hollis 



r36 



HOLLIS TAX LIST. 



[•775' 



six years, moderator of the annual town meeting eleven years, and 
town treasurer twenty years, between 1746 and 1768. In 176S he 
removed to Plymouth, N. H., and was deacon of the church at Ply- 
mouth ; representative to New Hampshire General Court in i777 
and 1778, and State coinicillor in 1780. 1781 and 1783. Died Oc- 
tober 19, 1800, ;et. 79. 

WRIGHT, CAPT. JOSHUA 

came from VVoburn, Mass.. was in West Dunstable in i739- 'i^i^' 
signed the second petition for the charter. He was selectman in 
1749 and 1769. A soldier in the French war in 1760. and Captain 
of the Hollis militia company, in i775i 'iii<-l previously. His sons. 
Lemuel and Uriah, were soldiers in the Revolution. Died August 
5. 1776. itt. 60. 

IIOLI.IS TAX LISTS. 

NAMES ON THE HOLLIS -'EAST SIDE" AND --WESr SIDE" rAX 
LISTS IN JANUARY I, 1 775. 

The following lists, copied from the records, present all the 
names of the tax payers, January i, 1775. then on the Hollis tax 
lists, with the amount of the province tax for 1774, assessed to each 
in pounds, shillings and pence. This was the last tax collected in 
Hollis under the authority of the King. The names marked thus* 
will be found in the lists of the Hollis soldiers in the Revolution. 

ON THE EAST SIDE. 



Wd. EH^^abcth Abbot, 
Jeremiah Ames, 
Ens. Stephen Ames, 
*jonathan Ames, 
N.ithaniel Ball, 
♦Nathaniel Ball, Jnn., 
Wd. Abigail Barron, 
Phineas Bennett, 
Joshna Blancliard, 
*Josiah Blood, 
*Josiah Blood, Jan., 
♦Nathaniel Blood, 
♦Francis Blood, 
Ebenezer Blood, 
♦Nathan Blood, 
Caleb Blood, 
Dca. John Boynton, 
♦Joshua Boynton, 
♦Benjamin Boynton, 



7 


8 


6 


6 


4 


9 


3 


1 1 



John Hoynton, Jnn., 
♦William Brooks, 
♦John Brooks, 
♦Ephraim Burge, 
♦John Campbell, 
♦Sam'l Chamberlain. 
♦James Colbiirn, 
♦Josiah Conant, 
Sam'l Cumings, Esq. 
♦John Cumings, 
♦Lt. Reuben Dow, 
Peter Ends 
Lt. Amos Eastman, 
♦Amos Eastman, Jnn 
♦Jonathan Eastman, 
♦Christopher Farley. 
Lt. Sam'l Farley, 
Benjamin Farmer. 
♦Minott Farmer, 



'775-] 



IK^M.IS TAX LISI . 



'37 



*D;ivicl Karnsworth, 
*Ens. Jonas Flagg, 
James French, 
John French, 
Josiah French, 
•Timolliy French, 
■•John Goss, 
*C<)1. John Hale, 
*Leinuel H;irdy, 
♦Samuel Hill, 
*IIon. Samuel Mobart, 
Shubael Ilobart, 
*Farnietcr Honey, 
Kichard Hopkins, 
♦Ephraim How, 
♦Joseph How, 
Wd. Hannah Hunt, 
Josiah Hunt, 
♦Ebenczer Jaquith, 
*Thonias Jaqviith, 
♦Jacob Jewett, 
Dea. Stephen Jewett, 
Dea. Nath'l Jewett, 
♦Ebenezer Jewett, 
Edward John, 
♦Samuel Jewett, 
Zach'h Kemp, 
♦Israel Kinney, 
Oliver Lawrence, 
Zach'h I,awrence, 
Zach'h Lawrence, Jun. 
Joseph Lesley, 
♦Jonas Lesley, 
-Chris'r Lovejoy, 
Daniel Lovejoy, 
Daniel Lovejoy, Jun., 
Wid. Patience Martin, 
Ens. Daniel Merrill, 
♦James McConnor, 
Dea. Enoch Noves, 



s. 


d. 




8 


3 


James Nutting, 


7 


S 


Benjamin Parker, 


3 


i 


Elea'r Parker, 


4 


s 


Sam'l Parker, 


5 


2 


Sam'l Parker, Jun., 


3 





*Ephraiin Pierce, 


7 


6 


♦Solomon Pierce, 


'4 


z 


Barzillai Pierce, 


4 


9 


Kichard Pierce, 


i 


3 


Simon Pierce, 


3 


S 


Jona. Philbrick, 


8 


8 


Wd. Anna Powers, 


a 


3 


♦Samson Powers, 


2 


8 


♦Stephen Powers, 


2 


3 


William Pool, 


4 


2 


Cyrus Proctor, 


I 


2 


Moses Proctor, 


4 


s 


♦Moses Proctor, Jun., 


6 


5 


Philip Proctor, 


6 


3 


Xehemiah Ranger, 


7 


5 


William Read, 


8 


5 


♦James Rideout, 


lO 


o 


William Searl, 


4 





Ebenezer Shed, 


2 


6 


Abel Shipley, 


7 


II 


Joshua Simonds, 


S 


2 


Jacob Smith, 


2 


5 


♦Joshua Smith, 


14 


3 


♦Isaac Stearns, 


7 


II 


♦Caleb Stiles, 


3 


6 


Edward Taylor. 


S 


3 


Benjamin Tenney 


2 


6 


William Tenney, 


2 


5 


♦William Tenney, |un., 


6 


3 


Daniel Wheeler, 


i 


3 


♦Ens. Noali Worcester, 


1 


6 


Capt. Joshua Wright, 


S 





♦Leniue! Wright, 


i 


3 


Timothy Wyman, 


7 


S 





2 


9 


6 


S 


3 


9 


4 


S 


.■; • 


6 


s 


II 


I 


6 


2 


3 


6 


2 


4 


3 


2 


3 


4 


9 


2 


II 


y 


o 


2 


S 


2 


6 


12 


4 



ON THE WEST SIDE. 



Samuel Abbot, 
♦John Atwell, 
Benjamin Austin, 
♦Daniel Bailey, 
♦Joel Bailey, 
♦Joseph Bailey, 
♦Richard Bailey, 
Timothy Bailey, 
♦Ebenezer Ball, 
♦Eleazer Ball. 
♦Joshua Blanchard. Jun. 
♦Ebenezer Ball, Jr., 
♦Daniel Blood, 



2 


3 


♦Daniel Blood, Jun., 


7 


3 


EInathan Blood, 




4 


♦Jonas Blood, 




9 


♦Abel Brown, 




3 


JosepI: Brown, 




lO 


William Brown, 




6 


Edward Carter, 




,^ 


♦Edward Carter, Jun., 


6 

S 


6 


Lt. Robert Colburn. 
♦Robert Colburn, Jun. 




3 


William Colburn, 


2 


1 1 


♦John Conroy, 


2 


9 


♦John Conroy. Jun.. 



138 



HOLLIS TAX LIST. 



['775- 



*Sainuel Coiiroy, 
Timothy Cook, , 
*Philip Cumings, 
Jonathan Danforth, 
*Jacoh Danforth, 
*Tliomas Emerson, 
*Dan'I Emerson, Jun., 
Joseph Estabrooks, 
*CaIcb Farley, 
Ebenezer Farley, 
*Ebenezer Farley, J uii 
*Janies Fisk, 
Oliver Fletcher, 
Ephraim Frencli, 
*Isaac French, 
*Nehemiah Frencli, 
Nicholas French, 
*\Villiani Frencli, 
John Goodhue, 
~~ *Samuel Goodhue, 
Samuel Gridlev, 
Moses Iladley, 
*Aaron Hardy, 
*Neheniiah Hardy, 
*Phineas Hardy. 
*Phineas Hardy, Jun., 
Stephen Harris, 
Samuel Hayden, 
*John Hobart, 
Jonathan Hobart, 
*jona. Hobart, Jun., 
Jacob Jewett, Jr., 
*James Jewett, 
*Edward Joiinson, 
*Sanuiel Johnson, 
*Daniel Kendiick, 
*Abner Keyes, 
Abra'ni Lceniaii, 
.Sam'l Leenian, 
*Sam"l Leemaii, Jun.. 
Israel Mead, 
*James McDaniels, 
*DanieI Mooar, 
*Joseph Minott, 
William Nevins, 
*\Vin. Nevins, Jun., 
*Benj'n Nevins, 
*Joseph Nevins, 

Whole number 
marked thus *. a.s 



£ s. 


d. 




J 


3 


Benj'n Nurse, 


J 


9 


Josiah Parker, 


- 


8 


*TIiomas Patch, 
John Phelps, 




S 
1 1 


*Nathan Phelps, 
*John Philbrick, 


s 





Thomas Powers, 


■J 


3 


*Thomas Pratt, 


7 


b 


*Ezekiel Proctor, 




6 


Benj'n Reed, 


4 


3 


*Jacob Reed, 


2, 


5 


^Jonathan Russ, 


i 


.S 


*Benj'n Saunderson, 


2 


5 


* Robert Seaver, 


2. 


3 


*Jerem'h Shattuck, 


■z 


9 


*Wni. Shattuck, 


,i 


3 


Zach'h Shattuck, 





1 1 


*Zach'h Shattuck, Jun. 


4 


2 


Benj'n Simpson, 


6 


2 


Thomas Smith, 


2 


1 1 


\Vd. Mary Smith, 


,5 


2 


*Joseph Stearns, 


4 


V 


Sam'l Stearns, Jr., 


J 


h 


[saac Stevens, 


4 


.5 


*Isaac Stevens, Juu., 


.; 


; 


^Jonathan Taylor, 


4 


s 


•*David Wallingford, 


S 





Solomon Wheat, 


4 


3 


*Thomas Wheat, 


6 


3 


*Thomas Wheat, Jun., 


2 


3 


*E;benezer Wheeler, 


5 


S 


*Lebbeus Wheeler, 


S 


1 1 


*Thaddeus Wheeler, 


2 


s 


Benj'n Whiting, Esq., 


J 





Capt. Leonard Whiting, 


7 


1 1 


*Bray Wilkins, 


3 


' 9 


*Jonas Willoughby, 


.\ 





John Willoughby, 


_^ 


2 


Sam'l Willoughbv, 


2 


_; 


*Israel Wilkins, 


I 


5 


*Ne!ieniiah Woods, 


.=; 


6 


*Benj'n Wright, 


2 


9 


Sam'l Wriglit, 


3 


6 


*Sam'l Wright, jun., 


O 


2 


*Jesse Wyman, 


4 


1 1 


Timo. W"ym:ui, Jun., 


2 


3 


*Ebenezer Youngiiian, 


- 


9 


*Nicholas Youngman, 


of names on the above tax-li.sts, 239 


havint:^ l^een 


in 


the army. 130. 



2 


6 


6 


S 


4 


11 


7 


2 


2 


3 


3 


9 


4 





2 


3 


2 


•i 


2 


3 


3 


6 


3 


S 



■2. 


3 


3 


6 


."; 


II 


3 


3 


3 


s 


3 


6 


9 


8 


2 


6 


4 


3 


2 


S 


2 


s 


7 


3 


6 


6 


9 


1 I 

6 


3 


6 


4 


6 


2 


3 


5 


2 


6 


2 



3 


6 


3 


8 


S 





7 


2 


4 


2 


3 


6 


6 


3 


3 


8 


3 


g 



Number 



THE BH(:u\M\<; oi" iHK PkK\'om'tic)N. 139 



C H A V T i: R XII. 

THE BEGINNING OK TMK ia:\ OLITION. HOI, LIS TOWN MEETINGS. 

PATRIOTIC UESOLl'TIONS, HOLI.IS MILITIA. ALAKM LIST. 

THE COUNTY CONGRESS AT AMHERST. COMPANY OF MINUTE 

MEN TO LEXINGTON AND CAMBRIDGE AI'IML I9. OEEICERS AND 

ROLL OK THIS COMPANY. WAGES OI- 1 HE MEN. 

Written liistoiv as well as tradition, aiul the provincial and early 
vState records, alike with the recortis of many of the older towns in 
New Hampshire, bear ample testimony to the unanimity, courage, 
constancy and sacrifices of the people of the then proyince in the 
cause of our national independence. The town meeting; of those 
times, the family gathering of a sturdy, giaye and thoughtful yeo- 
manry, was near of kin and the next door neighl)or to the family altar 
and hearth-stone. It was an original New England invention — the 
rude, it may be, but fitting cradle of American Independence — alike 
the admiration and despair of the friends of constitutional libert\' 
the world over. 

"Stern rugged nurse, thy rigid lore 
With patience many a year she bore. 
What sorrow was thou badst her know." 

One could hardly find or hope for a better or more perfect work- 
ing model of this novel political machinery than was to be met with 
in the town meetings of Hollis from the year i775 to 1783- There 
is abundant evidence that the like spirit and patriotism animated 
many of the other New Hampshire towns as were manifested in the 
town meetings and doings of the people of HoIIis. though it is be- 
lieved that in but few of them were their revolutionary records and 
documents, at the time, so carefully kept, and since then so well 
preserved. In what I have to say of the doings of Hollis, in the 
Revolution, it is not my wish or purpose to make any invidious com- 
parison between those doings and what was done in the same cause 
in the same vears bv other New Hampshire towns, but rather to 



J4O WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. [^775' 

present this sketch of Hollis as an ilhistration <A' the predoniinanee 
of the public sentiment of the province. A6 idio disce omnes. 

Hollis (spelled Holies in the town charter as well as in all the 
early town records) was on the south line of the province, adjoining 
Pepperell, about fortv-fi^■e miles northwest of Boston and twentv- 
three from Concord, Alass. Bv the census laken in Septembei". 
177!^, the whole number of its inhabitants was 12:;^. of whom 174 
were males between the ages of 16 and ^o. 71 males o\er ^o, 60 of 
its men then in the army, besides the rle\ en wh(; had hei'ore been 
killed in the seryice or died of sickness.* i'here \\ ere also in the 
town one hundred and thirty-one tire-arms, antl one hundred and 
eleyen pounds of powder, the property of private persons, but none 
at that date in the town store, the ammunition ot the town lia\'ing 
been all exhausted the spring previous. 

In respect to what was done Ijv the town in the war that follov\ ed. 
the ^' coming evo/ts cast flieir sliadmss before'' in the resolutions 
and doings of several town meetings held long before the iirst l)lood 
was shed at Lexington. The records of these tirst gatherings, and 
of all other meetings of the town, foi' the like purpose held till the 
war was ended, tell their o\vn stor\ in })laiu. blunt, terse Anglo 
Saxon, and need no comment of mine to adtl force or point to their 
meaning, or to make them more intelligible. Where my limits 
will permit, it is my purpose to let them sj^tcak in tiuir own 
language. 

In the record of a special town meeting iieltl Xox ember 7. 1774. 
more than five months before the battle at Lexington, 1 'c\\\(\ the tirst 
recorded allusion to the existing political troubles and forthcoming 
conflict. This meeting was 'called to choose delegates for the town 
to a County Congress (so-called) for Hillsborough Count\ . to be 
held the next day, (November 8,) at Amherst, this being the Iirst of 
three special Hollis town meetings called for the like purpose. 
After having made choice of •■ Dea. Stephen Jewett. Ensign 
Stephen Ames and Lieut. Reuben Do\n " to represent the town 
at that Congress, the following preamble and resolution, with three 
other resolutions of the like tenor, were adopted l)\ tlie meeting: 

■•Preamble. — \Ve, the iidiabitants of the town of Holies, having 
taken into our most serious consideration the precarious and most 
alarming atiairs of our land at the present dav. ilo lirml\ enter into 
the following resolutions: 

*N. H. Hist. Coll.. V. I. p. 233. 



1775-] WAR Ol- TMK KKVOLl'TION. I4I 

' ist. "That \vc will at all times endeavor to maintain our lil)erl\ 
and privilej^cs. both civil and sacred, even at the risque of our lives 
and fortunes, and will not only disapprove, but wholly despise all 
such persons as we have just and solid reasons to tliink even wish us 
in anv measure to be deprived of them." 

This vear. (1774) it appears from the tax list, that the sum of 
£27. i6s. 3d. was assessed upon the inhabitants for ammunition for 
the town, as a part of the annual tax. 

The next special town meeting was held December 30,1774 to 
choose delegates to a Provincial Congress at Exeter, called to advise 
in respect to a Continental Congress. At this meeting, as show n 
liy the record, tlie following votes were passed : 

•• 1st. \'oted to send a tlelcgate to Exeter to meet the delegates of 
this province to consult on a Continental Congress, and John Hale. 
Esq.. was chosen said delegate. 

•' id. \'()ted that we do cordially accede t(j the just statement of 
the rights and gric\ances of the British colonies and the measiues 
adopted and recommended by the Continental Congress for the res- 
toration and establishment of the former, and for the redress of the 
latter. 

••3d. \'ote(i that Col. John Hale. Dea. Stephen Jewetl. Dea. 
John Boynton. Ensign Stephen Ames. Dea. Enoch Noyes, Ensign 
Xoah Worcesfer. Daniel Kendrick. Jeremiah Ames, William 
15rown and William Xevins or the major part of them, be a com- 
mittee in behalf of the town to observe the conduct of all jiersons 
touching the association agreement. 

••4th. \'oted to raise £16. 13s. Sd. as a donation to the poor of 
Boston." 

There are still to be found among the revolutionary documents of 
Ilollis. three original rolls of militarv companies, all made in the 
vear i775- The two oldest of these rolls bear date |anuar\' 26. 
1775. and the thirtl of them June 7. of the same year, ten davs be- 
fore the battle of Bunker Hill. The heading of one of the two 
oldest rolls is '-A List of. tin- Cotupaz/v nf Militio in Holies 
under t/ie comniai/J of Capt. ^foshna WrigJit^ made ya/n/ary 
j6, rjys- Of this company, Reuben Dow was Lieutenant and 
Noah Worcester. Ensign. There were also four Sergeants, viz., 
John Atwell, Jacob Jewett, Jun.. John Cumings and William 
Brooks. Besides those officers, this roll contains the names of one 
Corporal, one Drummer, one Filer, and -14. rank and tile — 12\ in 



H- 



WAK OF THE REVOLUTION. [l775' 



Jill — supposed to have been the names of all the able bodied men 
in the town liable under the law to do military service. 

The caption of the second roll is the ''Alarm List" made. Jan- 
uary 26th, 177s- On this list are 100 names, and it is supposed to 
include the names of all such able bodied men of the town as by 
the province law were exempt from military duty, either on ac- 
count of age or other cause specified in the law. The list contains 
the names of two millers, viz., Thomas Jaquith and Enoch Noyes 
— millers then being excused from doing military duty. It also 
contained the names of twenty-seven persons who were designated 
with the title se/n'or, indicating that each of the twenty-seven had a 
son of the same name. For the purpose of exhibiting the character 
of this roll as a curiosity of the times the first twenty-four names, 
copied from it in the order in which they stood upon the list, are 
presented below with the several titles prefixed or appended to each 
of them. Whether or not this order is intended to indica te the rel- 
ative social rank and standing of these dignitaries is left to con- 
jectiu'e. 

Capt. Leonard Whiting, Ensign Daniel Merrill, 

Benjamin Whiting, Esq., Ensign Jonas Flagg, 

Richard Cutts Shannon, Esq.. Ensign Benjamin Parker, 

Samuel Cumings, Esq., Rev. Daniel Emerson, 

Daniel Emerson, Jun., Esq., Dea. Samuel Goodhue, 

— j^ieut. Benjamin F"arlev, Dea. Nathaniel Jewett. 

Lt. Samuel F^arley, Rea. Enoch Noyes, 

Lt. David Farnsworth, Dea. John Boynton, 

Lt. Amos Eastman, Dea. Stei-hen Jewett, 

Lt. Robert Coldurn, William Cumings, Sch. Mastci-. 

Lt. Samuel Gkidley, John Hale, Physician, 

Ensign Stephen Ames, Samuel Hosley, do. 

The title of the third of those rolls is as follows: •• 7V/c List of 
t/ic present Mi/it/a Cavipany of Holies. Exchtsive of tJie Min- 
ute Men and all that have gone into the army June ye jth, J77J." 
Of this Company Noah Worcester was Captain, Daniel Kendrick. 
Lieutenant, and Jacob Jewett, Ensign, and inclusive of these 
officers this roll contains \22 names, 102 less than the militia com- 
pany roll made on the previous 26th of January. 

In the record of the annual town meeting of March 6, i775- '^*' 
reference in any way ^^'as matle to the impending troubles, but on 
the 3d of April following, a special town meeting was summoned 
to choose delegates to a second County Congress to be held at Am- 
iierst on the 5th of that month, '' and to see what method should be 
taken to raise monev for the Continental Congress at Philadelphia.' 



1775] WAK (}}■ TirK HKVOMJTION. 143 

Having made choice of "Dea. Stephen Jewetl " and '"Dea. Enoch 
Noyes" as delegates to that Congress, and voted such instructions 
to them as the meeting thought prudent, it also '' Voted that all 
persons who shall pay money by subscription to send fiozc to the 
Continental Congress, shall have the same deducted out of their 
Province Rates." 

The next special town meeting was held April 23. 1775- upon 
the receipt of the following letter from Col. John Wentworth, writ- 
ten the day after the battle of Lexington, to the selectmen of Hollis, 
in behalf of the New Hampshire Committee of Safctv. and which 
forms a part of the record of the meeting : 

" Gcntleiuoi : This moment melancholy intelligence has been 
received of hostilities being commenced between the troops under 
the command of General Gage and our brethren of the Massachu- 
setts Bay. The importance of our exerting ourselves at this critical 
moment has caused the provincial committee to meet at Exeter, and 
you are requested instantly to choose and hasten forward a delegate 
or delegates to join the committee and aid them in consulting 
measures necessary for our safety. 

J. Wentworth. 
In behalf of the Committee of Safety." 

" Province of T^ew Hampshire. | Special town meeting. Aprij 
Hillsborough County, SS. J 23, 1775. 

"Pursuant to the above notice and request, the inhabitants of the 
town of Holies being met, unanimously voted, that Samuel Hobart. 
Esq., be and hereby is appointed to represent this town at Exeter, 
with other delegates, that are or shall be appointed by the several 
towns of this Province for the purpose above mentioned. 

Noah Worcester, Town Clerk." 

The tollowing is a copy of the full record of a town meeting, 
April 28, 1775, called to raise soldiers for the army, nine days after 
the battle of Lexington : 

" Province of New Hampshire. 1 Special meeting April 28. i77S- 
Hillsborough County, vSS. I Col. John Hale. Moderator. 

"At a meeting of the town of Holies called on a sudden emer- 
gency in the day of our public distress. 

" I St. V^oted. that we will pay two commissionetl officers, four 
tion-commissioned officers, and thirty-four rank and file, making in 
the whole forty good and able men to join the army in Cambridge. 



144 WAH OF THE REVOLUTIOX. [17 



Z-^" 



paying said officers and men the same wages the Massachusetts men 
receive, and will also victual the same till such time as the resolu- 
tion of the General Court or the Cong-ress of the Province of New 
Hampshire shall be known respecting the rai|iing of a standing 
army the ensuing summer. 

■' 3nd. Voted, that the selectmen provide necessaries for sundrx 
poor families where the men are gone into the army till further 
orders, and the amoimt be deducted out of their wages. 

" 3d. Voted, that what grain was raised for the poor of Boston 
shall be one half sent to the army, and the other half to be dis- 
tributed to the above families." 

The sequel of the doings of the town, both in the first and follow- 
ing years of the war, furnishes abundant evidence that tliis vote of 
the aSth of April ^v;ls not an empty boast, and that the patriotic 
pledges then made were amply and faithfully redeemed. 

7^he extract presented below is copied from the proceedings of a 
town meeting. May ii. 1775. called to choose delegates to the Pro- 
\incial Congress at Exeter, to be holden May 17th. 

•• Voted and chose Col. John Hale and Deacon Enocli Noyes 
Delegates to the Provincial Congress to meet at Exeter on the 17th 
of May inst. Also. Votetl and instructed our delegates to join the 
other Governments in raising and ))aying their proportions in men 
and monev in the defence of the Liberties of these Colonies." 

Next l)elow is presented a copy in full of the record of the third 
town meeting, Mav 18. 1775, to appoint and instruct delegates to 
the third and last County Congress to be licld at Amherst, on the 
following :24th of May. 

"Province of New Hampshire. 1 vSpeci'l town meeting May 18, 1775, 
Hillsborough Coimtv. vSvS. | Ensign Noah Worcester, moderator^ 

•' At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Holies, May the 
1 8th. in the day of our public distress, occasioned by a letter from 
Mr. Daniel Campbell and Mr. Jonathan Martin, a connnittee for 
calling a C(mgress for this county, which Congress was called for 
the following purpose : 

••1. To go into some measures for the better security of the inter- 
nal policy of the comity to prevent declining into a state of nature. 

"2. To see if the Congress will appoint a committee of corres- 
pondence to wait on or join the Congress of Massachusetts Bay. 

"3. To enforce a strict adherence to the Association Agreement 
of tiie Continentel Congress. 



1 775'] MINUTE MKN ro CAMBRIDGE. I4<; 

''Mr. William Ncvins, Mr. Jeremiah Ames and Lieut. Samuel 
Farley, chosen delegates for the Congress which is to be holden at 
Amherst on the 24th of May next. As to the article in the letter of 
Messrs. Campbell and Martin respecting the sending a committee 
<o the Massachusetts Congress, 

" Voted unanimously that as we have a Provincial Congress now 
Kitting, which will doubtless send to them — therefore it appears to us 
nf)t best for this county to take it upon them to send such a com- 
mittee." 

It is very evident from the foregoing proceedings and vote that the 
people t)f H<jllis were in no degree in sympathy with apart, at least, 
of the supposed purposes of this County Congress. On the contrary 
they regarded some of the objects and doings of that Congress as 
iisurpatiiHis. and as tending to disunion. This view of the people of 
the town will more fully apj)car in an able and thoughtful memo- 
rial of their Committee of Safet) (still preserved) and addressed to 
the County Congress in July of thaf year. A copy of this memorial 
may be found in the •' Xiw Hampshire Pr<»vincial Papers, vol. 
VII. page 450." 

It is shown by the town records that the st) le " Provhice of New 
Hampshire.,''' was used in the margin of all warrants for town meet- 
ings till after the battle of Runker Hill, June 17, 1775. After that 
date, till July 4, 1776, the word '' Colony" was used in those war- 
rants, in the place of Province. After the Declaration of Independ- 
<nce the word •' State " took the place of colony and province. 

The following is a copy of the record of the last Ilollis tow n 
meeting in 1775- ^md shows among other things how the right to 
v<jte of soldiers absent in the army was settled by our ancestors one 
hundred years ago. 

"Colony of New Hampshire. ) Special meeting, Dec. 12, 1775. 
Hillsborough County, SS. \ Col. John Hale, Moderator. 

" Voted and chose Ensign Stephen Ames a delegate to the Con- 
gress or Assembly at Exeter for a year. 

" SoLDiKKs' VoTKs. — A dispute arose respecting some votes 
which were brought in writing of persons gone into the army, 
which being put to vote they were allowed as if tne men were 
present themselves." 
(10) 



146 ' MINUTK MEN lO rAMBRlDOK. ['775' 

THE COMPANY' OI- HOI, IMS MJTMUTE MKN FOK KKXINGTON ANI> 

CAMBKIDGK. 

Late at ni^jlit nn the iSth of .Vpril the (ietachnient of British 
troops under comniaiul of Lt. Col. !-^in!t]i crossed over from Bos- 
ton common to East Cambridge on their march to Lexingtcni and 
Concord. The distance from Hollis to Cambridge, by the roads 
then travelleil, was torty-two miles. The alarm of this expedition 
was at once spread through the country by mounted express. Ac- 
cording to well established tradition the news of it was brought to 
Hollis about noon of the [9th, by Dea. John Boynton. who lived in 
the south part of the town, near the province line, and was one of the 
committee of observation. Dea. Boynton came riding through the 
town at the top of in'sliorse's speed, calling out to his townsmen, as 
he passed, •• the /\con/ars arc coming and killiiTg mtr mcfi.''' Dea. 
Boynton {as the tradition tells the story), riding at full speed, and 
out of breath, announced his message at the door of Capt. Wor- 
cester, another member of the same committee, living a little south 
of the Hollis common, \slio had just risen from his diimer, and was 
then standing at his looking glass with his face well lathered, and 
in the act of shaving. Capt. Worcester, without stopping to finish 
his work, with his face still whitened for the razor, at once dropped 
that instrument, hurried to his stable, moimted his hor.se, and in 
that plight assisted in spreading the alarm. Other mounted mes- 
sengers were soon despatched to the several parts oi the town to 
carry the news, and in the afternoon of the saiiie day ninety-two 
minute men were rallied and met on the Hollis common, with' 
their muskets, — each with his powder horn, and one pound ot 
|)owder from the town's stock and twenty bullets. 

A stor\' is told in the same connection of five lirothers of the 
name of Nevins, then li\ ing in the nortli part of the toyvn, all of 
whom were afterwards in tlie army, which illustrates the spirit and 
promptness with which these minute men met this alarm. Early in 
the afternoon of the 19th of April three of these brothers were at 
work with their crowbars in digging stone for a farm wall at a 
.short distance from their home. At the coming in sight of the 
messenger, they had partially raised from its place a large flat stone 
embedded in a fiirm roadway. -Seeing the messenger spurring 
towards them :it full speed, one of the brothers put a small boulder 
under the large stone to keep it in the position to which it had been 
raised, and all stopped and listened to the message of the horseman. 



«775-] 



MINUTK MKN 1 () C AM ItK I ix. I-.. 



H7 



Upon liearint^ it, leaving the .stone as it was in the roacl\sa\, with 
the little boulder under it, they hastened to the house, and all three 
of them, with their guns and equipments, hurried to the llollis 
common to join their company. One of those brothers was after- 
wards killed at Bunker Hill ; another, the spring following, lost his 
life in the service in New York. As a family memento of this inci- 
dent, this large stone, with the small one supporting it, was per- 
mitted to remain for more than seventy years afterward, in the same 
position in which the brothers had left it on the 19th of April. 

Having made choice, the same afternoon, of Reuben Dow as 
Captain, John (joss, first Lieutenant, and John Cumings, 2d Lieu- 
tenant, this company on the evening of the [9th, or before day- 
light the next morning, was on its march from Hollis to Cambridge. 
The names of all the officers of the company, and also of the private 
soldiers, are presented in the list below, copied from an original 
company roll, preserved by Capt. Dow, and now with the Hollis 
documents, showing the date of enlistment, time of service, daily 
wages of officers and privates, pay for travel from Hollis to Cam- 
bridge, and back, and the amount of money paid to each of them 
by the town. This document is entitled, " A Muster KoU of Capt. 
Reuben Dow's Company of Minute Men who marched from Holies 
the 19th of April, 177^," and may be found in full, in the October 
number of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. ' 
pp. 2S2, 283. 



Reuben Dow, Capt., 
John Goss, ist Lieut., 
John Cuinin>^s, 2d. Lieut.. 
Nathan Blood, .Ser^. 
Joshua Boynton, " 
William Nevins, " 
Minot Farmer, " 
Samson Powers, Corp'l, 
James Mcintosh, •' 
James McConnor, " 
Kphraim Blood, " 
David Farnsworth, drumnit 
Noal) Worcester, Jr., Fifer, 
Benjamin Abbot, Private. 
David Ames, 
Jonathan Ames. 
John Atwell, 
Eheiiezer Ball. 
Nathaniel Ball. 
Job Bailey, 
Joel Bailey, 
Joseph Bailey. 



Richard Bailey, Private. 
Daniel Blood, '• 

Francis Flood, " 

Jonas Blood. " 

Benj'n Boynton, " 
Klias Boynton, " 

Abel Brown, •' 

John Campbell, 
James Colburn, ■• 
Nathan Colburn. 
Thomas Colburn, •' 
Samuel Conroy, 
Benj'n Cuminjfs 
Jacob Danforth, 
James Dickey, 
Amos Eastman, '• 
Jonathan Kastman, " 
-Benj'n Farley, " 

- Kbenczcr Farley, " 
James Fisk, " 

Josi.ah Fisk, 
W'illiam French, •• 



Ebcnczer (iilson. Private 
Manuel Grace. " 

Aaron Hardy. 
Samuel Hill, 
Samuel Hoslcv, 
Ephraim How, '• ' 

Ebenezcr Jaquilh. 
Samuel Jewe^, '" 

Edward Johnson. 
Sam'l Johnson, 
Thom.'is Kemp, " 
.■\bncr Keyes, '- 

Isr.ael Kinney, " 

Samuel Leeman, '• 
Randall McDaniels,"^ 
Joseph Minot, '' 

Benjamin Nevins, 
Joseph Nevins, "■ 

Thomas Patch, 
Nathan Phelps, 
John Philbrick, •"• 

Ephraim Pierce,. "• 



$4^ MINUTE MEN TO CAMBRIDGE. [l775- 

Nahum Powers, Private. Amos Taylor, Private Bray Wilkins, Private, 

Thomas Pratt, " Daniel Taylor, " Israel Wilkins, " 

Ezekiel Proctor. " William Tenney, " William Wood, " 

Jacob Reed, " David Walling^ford, " Benjamin Wright, " 

Jonathan Russ, " Nathaniel Wheat, " Benj. Wright, Jun., " 

Benjamin Sanders, " Thomas Whe.it, " Uriah Wright, " 

Robert Seaver. " Ebenezer Wheeler, " Jesse Wyman, " 

Jacob Spalding, " Thaddeus Wheeler, " Ebenezer Youngman, private. 

Isaac Stearns. " Lcbheus Wheeler, " 

Thirty-nine of the privates of the company, after an absence of 
from five to twelve day.s, returned to Hoilis. The remaining fifty- 
three, with but few if any exceptions, .stayed at Cambridge and 
vohmteered in other companies to serve for eight months. Much 
the largest part of those who remained at Cambridge re-enlisted 
for eight months in a new company under Capt. Dow, of which 
John Goss was al.so ist Lieutenant, and John Cumings, 2d Lieuten- 
ant. This company was afterwards mustered into the Massachu- 
setts regiment commanded by Col. William Prescott, the hero of 
Bunker Hill, who at the time lived near the north line of the ad- 
joining town of Pepperell, a large part of his farm being in Hoilis. 
Thomas Colburn and Ebenezer Youngman, two of these minute 
men, enlisted in the company of Capt. Moor, of Groton, Mass., in 
the same regiment, and were both killed in the fight at Bunker Hill. 
\l Job Bailey, Ephraim How. and Samuel Leeman, three others of 
them, joined the company of Capt. Levi Spalding of Nottingham 
West, (now Hudson) in the New Hampshire regiment, that fought 
at Bunker Hill under Col. Reed, and were all present in the battle. 
Six others of them, viz., Joel Bailey, Richard Bailey, Nathan Col- 
burn, Abner Keyes, David Wallingford, and Bray Wilkins, volun- 
teered in the company of Capt. Archelaus Town, of Amherst, 
New Hampshire, afterwards mustered into the 27th Massachusetts 
regiment, commanded by Col. Hutchinson. Of this company, 
Wallingford was 2d Lieutenant, and Wilkins, one of the Sergeants. 
It is shown by the original company roll of the Hoilis minute 
men, that the wages paid to the private soldiers of the company 
were one shilling and five pence per day, equal to about 24 cents in 
federal money. They were also paid one penny a mile each way 
for travel, making in all S4d. or 7s., the distance from Hoilis to 
Cambridge being 43 miles. The wages of the Captain were 4s. 
6d., or about 75 cents per day; those of the ist Lieutenant, 2S. 
lod. ; of the 2d Lieutenant, 2s. 6d. ; of the Sergeants, is. 8 3-4, 
or some less than 30 cents per day. The full amount paid by the 
own for the services of this company, as shown by this same roll, 
was £65. I 2s. 7d. 



1775-] MOLLIS MEN AT BUNKER HILL. I49 



CHAPTER XIII. 

1775 CONTINUED. HOLLIS COMPANY AT BUNKER HILL. ROI.I-r 

AND DESCRIPTIVE LIST. CAPT. DOW's COMMISSION. BATTLE 

OF BUNKER HILL. HOLLIS MEN KILLED AND WOUNDED. LOSS 

OF EQUIPMENTS. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REINFORCEMENTS. 

CAPT. Worcester's company. — number of hollis soldiers 

IX 1775 AND their wages. — MILITARY COATS. STORY OF A 

PATRIOTIC HOLLIS WOMAN. 

The new company of Capt. Dow, enlisted at Cambridj^c. for 
eight months, including its officers, consisted of fifty-nine men, that 
number making a full company under the law of Massachusetts 
for organizing the troops of that province. It is shown by an origi- 
nal return roll of this company, dated October 6, 1775, presenting 
the names of the dead and wounded as well as of those then living, 
now in the office of the Secretary of vStatc. at Boston, that all the 
men were from Ilollis. This roll is preserved with the other com- 
pany rolls of the regiment of Col. Prescott. and it may be seen on 
inspection of them that Capt. Dow's was the only company of the 
regiment, in whicli all the officers and privates were from one and 
the same town. 

The names of the officers and privates of the company, as first 
organized, are here presented, copied from an original roll pre- 
served in the family of Capt. Dow. Captain, Reuben Dow ; i si 
Lieutenant^ John Goss ; ZiS Lieutenant, John Cumings. Ser- 
geants^ ist, Nathan Blood: z>\, Josliua Boynlon ; 3d. William 
Nevins ; 4tli, Minot Farmer. Corporals, ist, Samson Powers : 2d, 
James Mcintosh ; 3d, James McConnor ; 4th, Ephraim Pierce. 
Lfrumtner, David Farnsworth. Fifer, Noah Worcester. Jun. 

1'1UV.\TES. 

William Adams, Jacob Boynton. Benjamin Cuniin^i, 

David Ames, Abel Brown, Philip Cumings. 

Ebenczcr Ball, John Campbell, Peter Cumings. 

Francis Blood, Wilder Chamberluin. Evan Dow, 

Elias Boyoton, AbelConant, Caleb Eustman. 



150 



HOI. MS MEN AT BITNKER HILL. 



[1775- 



Xehcmiah Pierce. 
John Platts, 
Peter Poor, 
Nalium Powers. 
Francis Powers, 
Jonathan Powers. 
Thomas Pn-itt, 
Ezckiel Proctor. 
Jacob Read, 
Jeremiali .Sliattuck. 



Jacob Spalding. -^ 
Isaac Stearns, 
Amos Taylor, , 
Daniel Taylor, 
Moses Thurston, 
Ebenezer Townsend 
Thomas Wheat, 
Lebbeus Wheeler, 
William Wood. 
Uriah AVrisrht. 



William Elliot. 
James F'isk, 
Josiah Fisk, 
Samuel Hill. 
Isaac Ilobart, 
Samuel Hosley, 
Samuel Jewett, 
Thomas Kemp, 
Israel Kinney, 
Phincas Nevins, 
Nathaniel Patten, 

Five members of the company, viz., the zd. Lieut., John Cuming.s ; 
Ebenezer Ball, Ephraim Blood, Jonathan Powers and Isaac Stearns, 
were soldiers in the last French and Indian war. l)cgun in the year 
/754. and which resulted in the final conquest of Canada. 

An original descriptive roll of fifty of the non-commissioned 
t)fficers and private soldiers of the company still exists, showing 
their height, age and complexion. From this roll it appears that 
Jonathan Powers, who was of the age of sixty years, was the oldest, 
and that Peter Cumings, a son of the zd Lieutenant, and but thir- 
teen, was the youngest. The next youngest, was Noah Worcester, 
Jun., the fifer, who was sixteen the November previous. The four 
tallest of the men were each six feet in height — the shortest was the 
boy, Peter Cumings, who was but i\\(i feet. Fourteen of the men 
were of " dark" complexion, the remaining thirty-six. '* light." 

COPV OF IHE DESCRIPTIVE ROLL. 



William Adams 


.JO 


Light, 


5 ft- 


5 in- 


J.ames McConnev 


31 


Light, 


Sft- 


7 in. 


Ebenezer Ball 


45 


Dark. 


5 ft- 


6 in. 


James Mclntosli 


i^ 


" 


Sft- 


6 in. 


Nathan Blood 


28 


Light, 


;>ft. 




Phineas Nevius 


17 




sft. 


6 in. 


Francis Blood 


-7 




oft. 




Nathaniel Patten 


4' 


Dark, 


sft. 


6 in. 


Epliraini Hlood 


.W 


•' 


5 ft. 


11 in. 


Nehemiah Pierce 


20 


Lia-ht, 


sft- 


7 in. 


Jacob Boyiiton 


'9 


Dark, 


sft- 


9 in. 


John Platts 


27 


•' 


sft- 


9 in. 


Elias Bnynton 


20 


" 


.5 ft- 


10 in. 


Peter Poor 


21 




5 ft- 


S in- 


Joshua Boynton 


30 


Light, 


5 ft- 


6 in. 


Nahum Powers 


35 


Dark, 


sft- 


9 in. 


John Campbell 


20 




Sft. 


in. 


Francis Powers 


33 


Light, 


sft- 


6 in. 


Abel Conant 


19 


" 


Sft. 


6 in. 


Jonathan Powers 


00 


" 


sft. 


9 in. 


Philip Cumings 


27 


" 


5 ft- 


6 in. 


Samson Powers 


26 




Sft. 


6 in. 


Benjamin Cumings 


'9 


" 


S ft. 


11 in. 


Thomas Pratt 


35 


" 


sft- 


10 in. 


Peter Cumings 


13 


" 


sft- 




Ezekiel Proctor 


40 


Dark. 


sft- 


6 in. 


Evan Dow 


21 


'• 


5 ft- 


6 in. 


Jacob Read 


4S 


•■ 


sft- 


ID in. 


Caleb Eastman 


22 


Dark, 


sft- 


S in. 


Jeremiah Sh.attuck 


20 


'• 


sft- 


ID in. 


William Elliot 


30 


LiglH, 


Sft. 


7 in. 


Jacob Spalding 


20 


Light, 


sft. 


4 in. 


Minot F"armer 


35 


" 


sft- 


8iu. 


Isaac Stearns 


38 


" 


sft. 


5 '1- 
8 in. 


David Farnsworth 


21 




6 ft. 




Amos Taj'lor 


27 


" 


sft. 


James Fisk 


37 


Dark, 


5 ft- 


in. 


Moses Thurston 


48 


" 


.5 ft- 


6 in. 


Josiah Fisk 


20 


Light, 


5 ft- 


S '"- 


Ebenezer Townsend 


22 


" 


sft- 


10 in. 


Samuel Hill 


21 




6 ft. 




Thomas Wheat 


24 


Dark, 


5 ft- 


S in. 


Isaac Hobarl 


19 


" 


Sft. 


6 in. 


Lebbeus Wheeler 


23 


Light, 


Sft. 


6 in. 


Samuel Hosley 


23 


" 


Sft- 


7 in. 


William Wood 


23 




sft- 


6 in. 


.Samuel Jewett 


'9 


Dark, 


sft- 


6 in. 


Noah Worcester, Jr. 


16 




sft- 


10 in. 


Thomas Kemp 


27 




sft- 


7 in. 


Uriah Wright 


31 


Daik, 


sft- 


6 in. 



1775'] HOLI.IS MKN AT BUNKKl! IIII.I.. 151 

Besides the fifty-nine eight months' men in the company of Capt. 
Dow, Thomas Colburn, Samuel Conroy, Samuel Wright, and 
Ebcnezer Youngman, enlisted in the company of Capt. Moor, of 
Groton, in the same regiment, and eight other Mollis soldiers, viz., 
Andrew Bailey, Job Bailey. Phineas Hardy, Thomas Hardy, 
Ephraim How, Samuel Leeman,Jun., Ephraim Rolfe, and Ephraim 
Smith, enlisted in the company of Capt. Spalding, in the New 
Hampshire regiment under Col. Reed, and all of them were present 
at the battle of Bunker Hill. Joel Bailey, Richard Bailey, Josiah ^ 
Bruce, Nathan Colburn. Joseph French,'^Nehemiah French, Abner 
Keyes, David Wallingford and Bray Wilkins. nine other HoUis 
men, enlisted for the like time in the company of Capt Towne of 
Amherst, which, as appears from the company roll, still preserved, 
afterwards joined the 27th Massachusetts regiment, which served at 
the siege of Boston under Col. Hutchinson. These several nuni" 
bers, added to the fifty-nine names in the company roll of Capt. 
Dow, make in all, eighty eight months' soldiers who went from 
Hollis in the spring or early in the summer of i775- 

The original commission of Capt. Dow. dated May 19, i775' 
with the autograph signature of Gen. Josepii Warren, president 
pro tem. of the Massachusetts Congress, who was killed at Bunker 
Hill about four weeks after, is now among the Hollis documents. 
A copy of this commission is here presented. 

•• Til K CoNHiKicss OF TifK Colon's ok MAssAcmrsK ris Bay. 

"To Rkubev Dow, gentleman. 
•• Greeting : 
•• We reposing especial trust and confidence in your coinage and 
good conduct, do by these presents constitute and appoint you, the 
said Reuben Dow, to be Captain in the company in the Regi- 
ment of foot commanded by William Pvescott, Esq.. Colonel, 
raised by the Congress aforesaid for the defence of said colony. 

■•Vou are. therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the 
duty of a Captain in leading, ordering and exercising the said com 
pany in arms, both inferior oflicers and soldiers, and to keep them 
in good order and discipline; and they are hereby commanded to 
obey you as their Captain ; and you are, yourself, to observe and 
follow such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time 
receive from the General and commander in chief of the forces 



152 HOLMS MEN AT BUNKKR HILL. ['775 

raised in the colony aforesaid, for the defence of the same, or any 
other your superior officers according to military rules and discf- 
pline in war, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. 

" By order of tlie Congress, 

"Jos. Warhkn, President P. T. 

"Watertown, the 19th of May, A. D.. 1775. 
'' Sam'. Freeman, Secretary P. T.'' 

The regiment of Col. Prescott, with other Massachusetts regi- 
ments, was stationed at Cambridge till the battle of Bunker Hill. 
About nine o'clock on the night of the i6th of June the companic;-; 
of Captains Dow and Moor, with the regiment of Col. Prescott. 
and detachments from twt) or three other regiments. b\ orders of 
the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, with their arms, spades 
and other intrenching tools, marched from Cambridge common to 
Charlestown, and took possession of the heights upon which, the 
next day, was fought the battle of Bunker Hill. Col. Prescott was 
at the head of the detachment, in a simple appropriate uniform, 
with a blue coat and three cornered hat. Two Sergeants carrying 
dark lanterns were in front of him, and the intrenching tools in 
carts in the rear. The men had been ordered to take with them 
in their knapsacks, one day's rations, but many of them neglected 
to obey this order. After one or more halts, for consultation 
of the officers, the detachment reached the hill to be fortified abt)ut 
midnight. Working with their spades and pickaxes the vs hole of 
the rest of the night and the next forenoon in the intense heat of ;< 
]une sun, without sleep and many of them suffering for the want 
of food and drink, they threw uj) the redoubt, which their heroism 
soon made foreyer memorable. To inspire his men vyith coiu'age 
and confidence \yhile busy with their intrenching tools, the gallant 
Prescott, on the forenoon of the 17th, mounted the parapet of the 
redouf)t, and continued to \yalk leisurely around on the toj:) of it in 
full yieyy of the British .ships and troops, inspecting the works, 
giving directions to his officers and men, encouraging them by his 
example and approval, or amusing them by his humor. (ien. 
Gage, seeing through his spy glass, the tall, commanding form of 
Prescott, asked of Willard, one of the Council, '"who he was?'*" 
Willard replied, "He is my brother-in-law." " VV'ill he fight.''" 
again asked Gage. '"Yes, Sir;" said Willard, '-he is an obf 
soldier, and will fight to the last drop of blood in him." 



1 775-] HOLMS MEN AT BUNKER HIM-. 1 53 

The men, hungr}^^ and weary, having worked through the night 
and till noon of the next day, without sleep, and many of them with- 
out food or drink, some of their officers, in view of the impending 
conflict, urged Col. Prescott to send a request to Gen. Ward, com- 
manding at Cambridge, that the men who had built the fort might 
be relieved and fresh troops might be sent over for its defence. Col. 
Prescott fully understood the spirit and temper of his men — many 
of them were his neighbors, and he promptly said to tlie officers 
making that request, that he would not consent to their relief. 
'■ The men," said he, " who have raised these woi'ks will best 
defend them ; they have had the merit of the labor and should have 
the honor of victory, if attacked." 

Very many histories of the battle of Bunker Hill have already 
been written. It is not my purpose to add another, but simply to 
tell, in few words, the share the town of Ilollis and HoUis soldiers 
had in it. 

MOLLIS. ANO OTHER NEW HAMPSHIRE SOLDIERS IN COL. PRESCOTT's 

REGIMENT. 

Besides the company of Capt. Dow, and the four Ilollis soldiers 
in the company of Capt. Moor, it is shown by the original return 
rolls of Col. Prescott's regiment, now at Boston, that there were 
fifty or more other New Hampshire soldiers in the same regiment, 
mostly from towns in the vicinity of Hollis. Of these, eleven were 
from Merrimack, eleven from Londonderry, seven from Raby (now 
Brookline), others from Amherst, Mason, New Ipswich, and other 
towns, making in all between one hundred and ten and one hundred 
and twenty New Hampshire men in that regiment. Yet, so far as 
I am aware, no New Hampshire history of the battle of Bunker Hill 
makes any reference to the New Hampshire soldiers in the regiment 
of Col. Prescott. It is said in " Frothingham's Siege of Boston.'' 
page 401, that not more than three hundred of Col. Prescott's 
regiment marched with him to Charlestown on the night of the i6th 
of June. If such was the fact, it is not improbable that one-fourth 
of the three hundred were New Hampshire soldiers, and at least 
one-sixlli of them from Hollis. 

CASUALITES. 

James Fisk and Jeremiah Shattuck, two of Capt. Dow's company, 
died of sickness, at Cambridge, on the 29th of May. Caleb 
Eastman was killed at Cambridge, two days after the battle, by the 



r54 CASUALTIES IN THE BATTLE. [l775- 

accidental bursting of his gun. Nathan Blood, the ist Sergeant, 
Jacob Boynton, Isaac Hobart, Phineas Nevins, Peter Poor and 
Thomas Wheat, of Capt. Dow's company, and also Thomas 
Colburn and Ebenezer Youngman, two of the Hollis soldiers in 
Capt. Moor's company, were killed in the battle, making eight in 
all lost on the field, and a total loss of eleven. There were also six 
of the Hollis company wounded in the battle, viz., Reuben Dow, 
the Captain, Ephraim Blood, Francis Blood, Francis Powers, 
Thomas Pratt and William Wood ; Dow and Wood, so severely 
that they were afterwards pensioners for life. The nvmiber of icilled 
'n Col. Prescott's regiment, (according to Frothingham, page 193,) 
was forty-two : wounded, twenty-eight. Of the killed in that regi- 
ment, the loss of Hollis was nearly one-fifth, and more than that 
proportion of the w'ounded. 

From a letter written by Col. Stark, to Matthew Thornton, two 
days after the battle, it appears that the loss of his own regiment in 
killed and missing was fifteen, that of the regiment of Col. Reed, 
but tour, making nineteen in all.* From tlie above statements, it 
appears that the loss of Hollis, in killed, was fully equal to two- 
iifths of the killed and missing in the Iwo Ne\\ Hampshire regi- 
ments, and greater, as is belie\'ed, than that of any other town in 
New Hampshire or Massachusetts. It is shown by the return rolls 
at Boston, that the town of Pep])erell lost six in killed, which is 
believed to be the next largest loss of a single town. Of the Hollis 
men, above named, who had died of disease or been killed, Fisk, 
Shattuck. J31ood and Wheat \vcre married and heads of families. 
Boynton. Eastman, Hobart. Yoimgman, Nevins and Poor, were 
young, unmarried men. the oldest supposed to i)e 22, and the 
youngest but 17. 

LOSS 01. iC(}Uii*MKNr.s. icix;.. IN 1111': j'.Arri,!.;. 

It is shown l)y the rolls of Capt. Dow's comjjany, that liis uneii 
fnrjiished all their own ccjuipmenls. and also their clothes, as did 
the soldiers generally, the tirst year of the war. The following 
statement, to which are appended the names of twenty-eight mem- 
bers of the company, pi'esent at tlic battle, not including the 
commissioned officers, or the killed, exhibits the articles lost by each 
of them, with their estimated value. 



♦New Hampshire Hist. Coll., Vol. 2, p. 145.' 



1 775-] 'OSS OF EqyiPMENTS. 155 

"Cambridge, Dec. 22, i775-" 
•'This ma) certify that we the subscribers in Capt. Reuben 
Dovv's company, in Col. William Prescott's regiment, in the Conti- 
nental army, that we lost the following articles, in the late engage- 
ment on Bunker Hill on the 17th of June last." 

William Adams i knapsack, is., , value £o is- d. 

David Ames, i knapsack is. 4d. i tuinpline is. 3d., " 26 

Ephraim Blood, i knapsack is. Sd. i tumpline is. 4d. i gun £3. 14s., " 2 17 

Francis Blood, i knapsack is. 4d. 1 tumpline is. 2d., "26 

Elias Boynton, i gun £2, 3S., "22 

Abel Brown, i tumpline is. 2., i gun iSs., 1 cartridge box 4s., "232 

Wilder Chamberlain, i knapsack is 4d., " ' 4 

Abel Conant, i knapsack is. 8d., i tumpline is. 4d., '" 

Benjamin Cumings, i knapsack is. Sd., i tumpline is. 4d., " 

Minot Farmer, i knapsack is. 4d., i tumpline is 4d., i sword los., " 

David Farnsworth, i knapsack is. Sd., i tumpline is. 2d., '" 

Josiali Fisk, i knapsack is. Sd., i tumpline is. sd., i cartridge box 4s. Sd. " 

Samuel Hill, i knapsack is. 4d., 1 tumpline is. Sd., " 

Samuel Jewett, i knapsack is. 8d., i tumpline is. 2 d., " 

Israel Kinney, i knapsack is. 4d., i tumpline is. 2d., " 
James McConnor, i knapsack, is. 4d., i tumpline, is. 2d. i gun £3, 2s. 1 hat 12s " 

James Mcintosh, 1 knapsack i s. Sd., i tumpline is. 4d., i jacket Ss, " 

William Nevins, 1 knapsack is. Sd., 1 tumpline is. 4d., i jacket £1, 4s., " 

Nathaniel Patten, 1 knapsack is 4d., i tumpline is 3d., 1 jacket i6s., '" 

Nehemiah Pierce, i knapsack is. Sd., i tumpline is. 4d., i hat iSs., " 

Kr..ncis Powers, 1 gun £3, 14s., i bayonet 6s., " 
Nalium Powers, i knaps'k is. 4d., 1 tuinp'e is, 3d., hat 3s., jacket Ss., bayonet 6s '• 

Thomas Pratt, i knapsack is. 4d., i tumpline is. 3d., i gun £1, 16s., " 

Isaac Stearns, 1 knapsack is. 4d., i gun £2, 14s., " 

Lebbeus Wheeler, i knapsack is. Sd., i tumpline is. 2d., 1 hat 6s.. " 

Noah Worcester, Jun., i knapsack is. Sd., i tumpline is. 3d., " ^ 'o 

William Wood, i knapsack is. Sd., i tumpline is. 2d., 1 gun £2, Ss.. " 2 10 10 

Uriah Wright, i knapsack is. Sd., 1 tumpline is. 3d., " 211 

It appears from the above certificate, that twenty-five of these 
men lost their knapsacks, twenty-three their tumplines,* eight their 
guns, three their cartridge boxes, two their bayonets, and one his 
sword; five of them their short coats or "Jackets," and three 
their hats. 

How many of Capt. Dow's company, besides the killed and com- 
missioned officers, were present in the battle and lost no part of 
their equipments, cannot now be kno^vn — doubtless some, and it 
may be most of them. 

The following copy of an original certificate in the hand writing 
of Capt. Dow, and preserved by him, with other papers relating to 
his company, shows the loss of equipments of the six men belonging 
to it, killed in the battle. 

*A Tump-line was a strap to be placed across the forehead, to assist a man in carrying a pack 
on his back. — Worcester's Quarto Dictionary. 



3 




s 




2 


10 


7 


8 


i 




2 


10 


2 


6 


16 


6 


'3 




7 




iS 

1 


6 


10 


6 


18 


6 


15 


4 


8 


10 



156 LOSS OF EQUIPMENTS. ['775 

Cambridge, Dec. 22. 1775." 

" Nathan Blood, Isaac Hobart. Jacob Boynton. 

Thomas Wheat, Peter Poor, Phhieas Nevins." 

" The men whose names are above written belonged to Capt- 
Dow's company, and Col. William Prescott's regiment and were all 
killed in the battle of Bunker Hill, on the 17th of June last, and 
were furnished each of them with a good gun, judged to be worth 
Eight Dollars apiece — also were furnished with other materials, viz. 
Cartridge Boxes, Knapsacks and Tump-lines — and were well 
clothed for soldiers — Also had each of them a good blanket. 
Nathan Blood had a good Hanger." 

It appears that the eight Hollis men in Capt. Spalding's company, 
in the New Hampshire regiment of Col. Reed, were all present in 
the battle, and that each of them lost portions of his clothing or 
equipments, as is shown from the returns of losses made after the 
battle, now to be found in the "New Hampshire Provincial Pa- 
pers," Volume 6, page S92." These losses with their appraised 
value were as follows : 

Andrew Bailey, i coat, i sliirt, trousers, stocking;,, value, £i. 6s. SJ 

Job Bailey, i cartiicijje box, knapsack, and shiit, " 15 

Phineas Hardy, 1 blanket, coat, shirt, breeches, •• 1 iz 

ThomiLS Hardy, i blanket, coat, jacket, stockings, •• 2 6 S 

Ephraim How, i gun, breeches and shirt, •' 151 

Samuel Leeman, 3 coats and i bl.onket, " j '3 1 

Ephraim Rolfe, i grun, blanket, shirt, stockings, •• 3 9 4 

Ephraim Smith, 1 knapsack, shirt, stockings, •' n 4 

At this late day it is difficult to ascertain all the reasons that may 
have induced the company of Capt. Dow to join the Massachusetts 
regiment of Col. Prescott. But the following well established facts 
undoubtedly had much influence. Col. Prescott at the time lived 
upon his farm on the north side of Pepperell. adjoining Hollis, 
(still the country seat of his descendants) a large pari of the farm 
then being in Hollis. Capt. Dow and Lieut. Goss lived in the 
south part of Hollis, and were the neighbors and friends of Col. 
Prescott. A very large part of the early settlers of Hollis were 
from Billerica, Chelmsford, Groton and Pepperell and other towns 
in Middlesex county in which most of the companies in Col. 
Prescott's regiment were enlisted. It may be added to these reasons, 
that Col. John Hale, one of the leading friends of the Revolution, 
in Hollis, was a brother-in-law of Col. Prescott. he having married 
Abigail Hale, a sister of Col. Hale. 



'775-] "^"^ ^'^^^ HAMPSHIRE REINFORCEMENTS. I57 

THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REINFORCEMENTS IN DECEMBER, 1775- 

The time of service of the men enlisted for eight months expired 
in December. On the 30th of November an express was sent by 
Gen. Sullivan, then in command of the Continental troops at Win- 
ter Hill, near Boston, to the New Hampshire Committee of Safety, 
informing them that the Connecticut regiments had refused to 
remain longer in the service, and urging for reinforcements from 
New Hampshire to supply their places. 

LET! ER OF GEN. SUKI.IVAN TO THE NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMITTKK 

OF SAFETY, 

" WixNTER Hill, Nov. 30, 1775. 

•' Sirs: Gen. Washington has sent to New Hampshire for thirty- 
<jne companies to take possession of and defend our lines in room 
■of the Connecticut forces who most scandalously refuse to tarry till 
the 1st of January. I must therefore intreat your utmost exertions 
to forward the raising those companies, lest the enemy should take 
advantage of their absence and force our lines. As the Connecticut 
forces will at all events leave us at or before the loth of next month, 
pray call upon every true friend of his country to assist with heart 
and hand in sending forward these companies as soon as possible. 
Sirs, I am in extreme haste your Obt. Serv't, 

"John Sullivan." 

" To the Committee of Safety at Exeter."* 

In answer to this call, New Hampshire, with patriotic and char- 
acteristic promptness, sent to Cambridge 31 companies of 63 each, 
<jf the New Hampshire " Minute Men," numbering in ail 2000, or 
more. These troops continued in the service, till the middle of 
March, 1776, when the British army evacuated Boston. 

Two-thirds or more of the 26th company of this force volun- 
teered from Hollis. Of this company Noah Worcester was Cap- 
tain, and Robert Seaver, 2d Lieutenant, both of Hollis, and Oba- 
<liah Parke:^ of Mason, ist Lieutenant. 

No roll of this company containing the names of all the men in 
it is known now to exist. But there are now among the Hollis 
Revolutionary papers two documents presenting the names of most 
of the Hollis men who were in the service in the several years of the 
yvar, with the amount of the wages and bounties paid to each of 

*N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. 7, p. 677. 



58 



lAPT. VVOUCESrER S COMPANY. 



[1775- 



them by the town. One of these documents entitled the " Great 
Retur7i " was made out by the selectmen of the town about eight 
years after the war was ended, in obedience to a resolution of the 
New Hampshire General Court. The other was prepared by Capt, 
John Goss, who was chosen by the town in the year i777: 'is a 
member of a committee appointed for that purpose, and who was 
Captain of the Hollis company at the battle of Bennington. These 
documents together contain the names of forty-fovu" Hollis soldiers. 
The name of the 2nd Lieutenant, Robert vSeaver, is not foimd on 
either of them, though he was one of the company that marched 
from Hollis to Lexington and Cambridge on the 19th of April, and 
also his name at the time and for many rears after was on the Hollis 
tax lists as a resident tax payer. 

It appears from the '•'■ Great Return " that thirty-seven men of this 
company were paid by the town £3 each, and two others £2, 5s. 
each. The names of five others of the company, with the wages 
supposed to have been paid them, are found in the " Return " of 
Capt. Goss, but not in the other document. The names of these 
soldiers, forty-five in all, are here presented : 



Noah Worcester, Cupt. 
Kobert .Scuvcr, ad Lieut. 
Samuel Ambrose, 
Kleazer Hall, 
Daniel Bailey, 
Joshua Blanchard. 
Daniel Hlooil, 
»Joel Boynton, 
Kliphalet Brown, 
J.imes Colburn, 
Robert Colbuim, 
josiah Conant, 
John Conroy, 
Benjamin Farley. 
Jo!^eph Farley, 



Stephen Farley, 
Isaac French, 
Ebenezer Gilson. 
Nehemiah Hardy. 
Jonathan Hobart,. 
Joshua Hobart, 
Parmeter Honey, 
Joseph How, 
Hbenezer Jaquitli. 
Thomas Jaquith,. 
Jacob Jewett, Jun.. 
Stephen Jewett, 
Oliver Lawrence, 
Asa Lovejoy, 
Jonathan Lovejoy, 



Ephraim Lund, 
Elijah Noyes, 
Daniel Patch, 
Natiian Phelps, 
Solomon Pierce. 
Wm. W. Pool, 
John Read, 
Jonathan Russ, 
William Shattuck, 
Zachariah Shattuck. 
Jacob Taylor, 
Jonathan Taylor, 
William Tenney, 
Nathaniel Wheat. 
James Wheeler. 



NUMBER OF HOLUS SOLDIERS THK FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR. 

Minute men who went to Cambridge in April, 92 

Eight months' men : In Capt. Dow's Company, 59 ; Capt. 

Moor's, 4 ; Spalding's, 8 ; Towns, 9 ; in all, 80 

In Capt. Worcester's Company. 45 



Making in all, 217' 

The names of 61 of the 92 minute men who went to Cambridge 
in April will be found in the foregoing lists of men enlisted tor 
eight months,'^or in that of the Hollis men in Capt. Worcester's 



I77')-] WAGES AND BOUNTIKS OF SOLDIERS IN 1 775- '59 

company. Deducting the 6i from 217, there will remain a total of 
156 different names of Hollis soldiers who were in the military ser- 
vice of the country during a part of the first year of the war, a 
number very nearly equal to one in eight of the whole population. 

It is shown by the " Great Retm-n " made by the selectmen above 
refen-ed to, that the town paid in the year 1775, for the wages or 
bounties for these soldiers, the following sums ; 

To the eight months' men at £12. per man, ( Ci res. s. d. 

per month), £'792. 00. 00. 

To the men in Capt. Worcester's company- ' 15. 'o. 00. 

For the 92 Minute men to Cambridge in April, 9-5. 07. 07. 

Making an aggegate of £1000. 17- 07. 

WACiKS OK SOLDIERS IN 1775- 

In the common histories of the war of the Revolution, but very 
little information is to be gleaned in regard to the wages paid to the 
brave men by whose valor and privations our national independence 
was won. Several of the original Hollis documents, still existing, 
throw much light upon this subject in respect to the pay of the 
soldiers who went from the town in 1775, and in tlie other years of 
the war. The pay roll of the first company of ninety-two minute 
men has already been adverted to, showing the daily wages paid to 
both the officers and privates of that company. It appears from a 
pay roll of the company of Capt. Dow, made in xA.ugust, 1775, after 
the men had been at Cambridge near four months, that the monthly 
wages of the private .soldiers were £2, or $6.67, or about 24 cents a 
day, reckoning twenty-eight days to the month. In addition to these 
wages the men were credited wi*h id. a mile for travel. The 
wages of the drummer, fifer and corporals appear to have been £2, 
5s. per month — those of the Sergeants £2, los.. the Second Lieut.. 
£3, the First Lieut., £4, and of the Captain, £6. or about $20.00 
per month. 

THE MILITARY COAT VOTED AS A BOUNTY TO KIGHT MONTHS* 

MEN. 

From the following copy of an original certificate and receipt 
now in the office of the Secretary of State, at Boston, it is shown 
that the soldiers in Capt. Dow's company received a military coat, 
voted by the Massachusetts Congress in the spring of 1775. as a 
bounty to men enlisted for eight months. 



l6o WAGES AND BOUNTIES OF SOLDIERS IN 1775- [*775- 

" Cambridge, Nov. 20, 1775. 
'•'■To the Honorable Commtiiee of Supplies: 

''This may certify that we who have hereunto subscribed our 
names do declare that we being under officers and soldiers enlisted 
under Captain Reuben Dow of Holies, in Col. William Prescott's 
regiment, have received each of us a coat according to a vote of 
the late Congress held at Watertown, and provided by the com- 
mittee of supplies, we say received of Lieutenant John Goss of said 
company," 

The above certificate was signed by forty-seven members of the 
company, being all the non-commissioned officers and privates, 
except the nine of them who had been previously killed or died of 
sickness. There was endorsed upon this certificate the receipt of 
Lieut. Goss, as follows : 

" Rec'd of the committee on cloathing forty-seven coats for the 
within mentioned soldiers as per Receipt on back, of this date. 
•' Nov. 20, 1775" "John Goss, Lieut." 

It also appears from the three following certificates and vouchers 
to be found in the same depository at Boston, that the heirs or 
widows of the nine deceased men received pay for these military 
bounty coats. 

1st Voucher. "To the Honorable the Committee of Supplies of 
Massachusetts Bay. Be pleased to pay or deliver to Capt. Reuben 
Dow the money due to the following men for their military coats, 
viz., Sergt. Nathan Blood, Thomas Wheat, Isaac Hobart, Jacob 
Boynton, Phineas Nevins, James Fisk and Caleb Eastman, in Capt. 
Reuben Dow's company, in Col. William Prescott's regiment, 
deceased, and this shall be your Receipt for the same, per us" 

" William Nkvins Enoch Noyes 

John Boynton Abigaii, Wheat 

Amos Eastman her 

SmiBAEL IIOBAKT SaKAH X FiSK." 

mark 

William Nevins, John Boynton, Amos Eastman and Shubael 
Hobart were respectively the fathers of Phineas Nevins, Jacob 
Boynton, Caleb Eastman and Isaac Hobart ; Abigail W^heat and 
Sarah Fisk, the widows of Thomas Wheat and James Fisk, and 
Enoch Noyes was the father-in-law of Sergt. Nathan Blood. 

2d Voucher. •' We hereby certify that the widow Experience 
Shattuck is the proper person to receive the clothing belonging to 



'775'] WAGES AND BOUNTIES OF SOLDIERS IN 1775- l6l 

Jeremiah Sluittuck who belonged to Capt. Reuben Dow's Company 
in Col. Wm. Prescott's regiment and is dead. 

" Noah Worcestrr, 
Jacob Jewett, 
Oliver Lawrence, 

'' Holies, y'" i6th of March, 1776. 

" To the Honorable Commltee of vSupplics of Massachusetts 
Bay. Gentlemen, Be pleased to pay to Capt. Reuben Dow, the 
money due to Jeremiah Shattuck, deceased, who belonged to Capt. 
Reuben Dow's Company in Col. Wm. Prescott's regiment, and this 
order shall be your discharge for the same, per me. 

lior 
Exi'EKiENCK X Shattuck." 

mark. 

Holies, March 14. 1776. 

3d Voucher. " We hereby certify that Capt. Reuben Dow is 
the only proper person to receive the clothing that is due to Peter 
Poor, a transient person who enlisted in his Company, and last re- 
sided in this Town and went away in debt. vSaid Poor was killed 
in Bunker Hill fight. 

" Noah Worcester, Oliver Lawre.nce, "k 
. Stephen Ames, Jacob Jewett, I Selectmen^of 

Daniel Kendrick. ) Holies." 

" Holies, Feb. 10. 1776. 

STORY OF A HOLLIS WOMAN. CAPTURE AM) SURRENDER OF A 

HOLLIS TORY. 

Among the citizens of Hollis in 1775, were four known as tories, 
whose sympathies were strongly with the royal government. 
These four were Benjamin Whiting, the first sheriff' of Hillsborough 
county ; his brother, Capt. Leonard Whiting ; and Samuel and 
Thomas Cumings, two of the sons of Samuel Cumings, Sen., the 
first town-clerk of Hollis. We copy the following notices of the 
two Whitings from vSabine's "Loyalists of the American Revolu- 
tion," Vol. 3, p. 433. 

" Whitings Benja7ni?z^ vSherift' of Plillsborough County, N. H. 
He was proscribed and banished and his property confiscated." 

" Whitings Leonard^ of Hollis, N. H. A noted Tory. In 1775, 
Whiting was the bearer of despatches from Canada to the British 
in Boston, and was arrested in Groton, Mass., under the following 
circumstances. After the departure of Col. Prescott's Regiment of 
' Minute Men,' Mrs. David Wright, of Pepperell, Mrs. Job Shattuck, 
(11) 



l6:2 CAITVmK OK A HOI, I, IS TOKY. ^^77^- 

of Groton, and the neighboring^ women, collected at what is now 
Jewett's bridge, over the Nashua river, between Pepperell and 
Groton, clothed in their absent husbands' apparel, and armed with 
muskets, pitchforks, and such other weaj^ons as they could find, and 
having elected Mrs. Wright their c(Mnmander. resolutely determined 
that no foe to freedom, foreign or domestic, should pass that bridge. 
Rumors were then rife that the Regidars were approaching, and 
frightful stories of slaughter flew rapidlv from place to place and 
from house to house. vSoon there appeared Mr. Leonard Whiting 
(the subject of this notice), on horseback, supposed to be treasona- 
bly engaged in carrying intelligence to the enemy. Whiting, by 
direction of ISlrs. Wright in her assumed character of Sergeant of 
the Bridge Guard, was seized, taken from his horse, searched, and 
detained a prisoner. Despatches were found in his boots, which 
were sent to the Committee of vSafety, and WHiiting himself was 
committed to the custody of the Committee of Observation of 
Gfoton." 

The maiden name of Mrs. David Wright was l*rudence Cum- 
ings, a sister of J>amuel and Thomas Cumings. two of the HoUis 
tories before mentioned, anil also of IJenjamin Cumings, a younger 
brother, who was in the company of Capt. Dow at Bunker Hill, 
and was afterwards a soldier in the Continental army. It ajipears 
from the llollis Records of Births and Marriages, that Prudence 
Cumings was 1)orn at the parish of West Dunstable, now Hollis, 
Nov. 26, 1740, and that she was married to l^axid Wright, of Pep- 
perell, Dec. 28, 1761. 



1776.] WAR OF THK HENOLUTIOn. 163 



'CHAPTER XIV. 

1776. MOLLIS SOLDIERS THE SECOND YEAR OF THE WAR. THK 

MOLLIS LOYALISTS OR TORIES. 

COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. 

At the annual March election of 1776 " Capt. Reuben Dow, 
Capt. Noah Worcester, Ensign Stephen Ames, Capt. Daniel Kcn- 
drick, Jacob Jewett, Oliver Lawrence, and Samuel Chamberlain," 
were chosen a Comjnittcc of Safety ; Noah Worcester, Stephen 
Ames, Daniel Kendrick, Jacob Jewett, and Oliver Lawrence, Select- 
men ; and on the 26th of November, at a special election, Stephen 
Ames was chosen Representative to the General Court for one year. 

MOLLIS SOLDIERS THE SECOND YEAR OF THE WAR. 

In the year 1776 the seat of the war was removed from the vicin- 
ity of Boston to Canada, and tlie States of New York and New 
Jersey. But a few of the company or regimental rolls of tiie troops 
furnished from New Hampshire the second 3'ear of the war are now 
know'n to exist, or if in existence, some of the most interesting and 
important of them, supposed to be in the office of the Secretary of 
State at Washington, under the inhospitable rules of that office, are 
not accessible to the historical enquirer. 1 have examined the very 
few of them at Concord, but in these researches I have been 
obliged to rely mainly upon the tow'ii records and documents for 
the names, numbers, time of service and wages of the Hollis sol- 
'diers for this year. 

•It appears from these documents that four Hollis soldiers, viz,, 
David Ames, Minot Farmer, David Patch and Eli Stiles, enlisted 
in the detachment of troops, under Gen. Arnold, who with so 
rjiuch privation and suffering, made their way, in the depth of 
winter, through the forests of Maine in 1775-6, by the way of Ken- 
;T)ehec river, to Canada and Quebec. Minot Farmer, who had been 



164 HOI.MS MEN IN THK CONTINENTAL AHMY. ['776- 

a Serg'eafit in Capt. Dovv's company' at Bunker Hill, was taken 
prisoner at the assault on (Quebec, and died in captivitx in the month 
of May of this year. 

In 1776. and afterwards till near the end of the war. New Hamp- 
shire I'urnished three regiments or battalions of regular troops, 
knoW'H as the ist, 2d and 3d New Hampshire Continental regi- 
ments, commanded severally by Colonels Cilley. Hale and Seam- 
mel. Dr. John Hale and his son-in-law. Dr. Jonathan Pool, both 
of Hollis, were respectively Surgeon and Assistant Surgeon of the 
1st New Hampsiiire regiment, from i//''^ to 1780. Dr. Hale had 
previously been Colonel of the New Hampshire regiment of militia, 
to which HoUis was attached, which t)fFice he resigned in the month 
*)f June of the former year. 

The private soldiers in these Continental regiments were at first 
enlisted for a single year. Besides the vSurgcon and ^Vssistant Sur- 
geon for the 1st regiment, Hollis t'urnished tbr those regiments 
twentv-one men. a part of whom are said to ha\-e enlisted in the 
sixth comjxuiv of the ist regiment, commanded by Capt. John 
House of Hanover, and a part in the iirst company of the 3d regi- 
ment under Capt. Isaac Frye of Wilton. Of this last company 
Samuel Leeman, Jun., of Hollis, was Ensign. The history and 
doings of these gallant regiments are too well known to require or 
permit special comment here. They were in the hard-fought bat- 
tles of this year near New York city, and their bravery and good 
conduct were conspicuous in the victories won at Trenton and 
Princeton in New [ersey. The wages of the men paid by the town 
were £24 for the year, or £2 each per month. Their names were 

Elias Boynlon, Thoma;- Hard}', PCzra Proctor. 

Abel Brown, Israel Kinney, John Read, 

Abel Conant, Sam'l Leeman, Jun., Stephen Richardson. 

Benjamin Cuniings, William Nevins, Ephraim Rolfo, 

Stephen Conroy, Jonathan Parker, p^^phraiin Smith, 

Jacob Danforth, Thomas Pratt, Jacob Taylor, 

W'illiam Elliot, Ezekiel Proctor, Thomas Voungman. 

William Nevins is said to have been taken captive near New 
York city, and to have died while a prisoner, prol^ably in a British 
prison ship. Ezra Proctor, as shown by the Hollis records, was 
drowned at New York on the 15th of May of this year. 

HOLLIS MEN IN COL, WINGATE's REGIMENT. 

About the middle of July of this year a regiment of New Hamp- 
shire Volunteers was enlisted to re-enforce the army then in Can- 
ada and placed under the command of Col. Joshua Wingate of 



1776.] HOLMS MKN IN OTHER REGIMENTS. 165 

Dover. In the third company of this regiment, of which Daniel 
Emerson, Jan., of Ilollis was Captain, were twent3'-five Hollis sol- 
diers, supposed to have been in service about six months. 

The wages paid them by the town were £12 each. Inconse- 
quence of the retreat of the Continental troops from Canada, this 
regiment went no farther north than Ticonderoga. The names of 
these men were, 

David Ames, Samuel Hill, Solomon Pierce, " 

John Ball, John How, Joseph Stearns, 

Daniel Blood, Jun., Oliver Lawrence, Jnn., Isaac Stevens, Jvm., 

Josiah Blood, Elijah Noyes, Ebcnezer Townsend, 

Daniel Emerson, Jun., Capt. Enoch Noyes, Jun., Jesse Worcester, 

Thomas Emerson, Tliomas Patch, Lemuel Wright, 

Ralph Emerson, Nathaniel Patten, John Youno;man, 

Benjamin Farley, Jim., Sainnel Phelps, Nicholas Youngman. 
Josiah Fisk, 

It appears from an inventory of the eqiiiptneiits and clothing of 
Josiah Blood, one of these soldiers, now among the Hollis Docu- 
ments, dated at Mt. Independence, September 16. 1776, that he 
died in the army about that time. 

.MEN IN COL. long's KEGIMENT. 

Early in August of this year, a small regimentof seven companies 
was organized by order of the New Hampshire Committee of 
Safety, afterwards commanded by Col. Pierce Long, and stationed 
at Newcastle, near Portsmouth. About the last of November, 1776, 
this regiment was ordered to tlie State of New "^Ork for the defence 
of Ticonderoga. In the third company of this regiment, of which 
Timothy Clements, of Hopkinton, was Captain, w ere t\velve Ilollis 
soldiers, supposed to have served about a year, and weie paid by the 
town £12 each, and whose names were 

Ebenezcr Ball, David Krcncii. Is.'iac Shattuck, 

■> Larnard Cuniinj;s. Uichard Hopkins, Enoch Spauldint;. 

Caleb Farley, Abner Keyes, Tiiomas Wheat, 

Christoplier Farley, Stephen Powers, Samuel Worcester. 

Isaac Shattuck, one of these soldiers, a son of Zachariah 
Shattuck. and a vomig, inunarried luan. died in ibis service. 

MEN IN COI.. HALDWIN's RKGIMKNI'. 

In the month of Seplemlier. of this year, a regiment of New 
Hampshire troops was raised, commande*.! by Col. Nahum Baldwin, 
of Amherst, to reinforce the Continental army, then at White 
Plains, near New ^'ork cit\ . In the second company of this 



l66 I{OI,LIS SOLDIERS IN OTHER REGIMENTS. [1776. 

regiment of which William Reed was Captain, were twenty-one 
Hollis soldiers, who, with one exception, were paid by the town = 
£5 7^- c^ich, and supposed to have been in the service about three 
months. It is shown by a roll of this conipany, now at Concord, 
that the men on enlisting were paid a bounty of £6 each, and 
allowed a penny a mile for travel, and the same in lieu of a baggage 
wagon. The names of these men were ->^!' 

Daniel Bailey, Jun., Stephen Dow, Asa Lovcjoy, -^ 

Daniel Blood, Isaac E'rench, >. • - Ephraim Pierce, 

Tiniotliy Blood, /Stephen Goodhue, ' John Platts, 

Benjamin Boynton, Noahjewett, Benjamin Sanderson, 

Joel Boynton, Stephen Jewett, Jun., Joshua Smith, 

Edward Carter, Thomas Kemp, William Tcnney, 

Nathan Colburn, Jonas Lesley, Ebenczer Wheeler. 

MEN IN COL. GIL^rAN's REGIMENT. 

In the iiionth of Decemi)er of this year, another New Hampshire 
regiment was enlisted to reinforce the army in New York, com- 
manded by Col, David Oilman. In the second company of this reg- 
iment, of which William ^Valker, of Dunstable, (now Nashua) was 
Captain, there were thirteen Hollis soldiers, as appears by the rolls 
at Concord and Hollis documents, eight of whom were paid by the 
town £4 each, and are supposed to have been in the service for two 
months. The names of these men are presented in the following 
list: 

Samuel Chaniherlain, Jonathan Ilobart, David Sanderson, 

William Cumings, Samuel Johnson, William Shattuck, 

Amos Eastman, Randall McDaniels. Benjamin Wright:,^ 

Ebenezer Farley, James Rolfe, Jesse NVyman. 
John Hale, Jun., 

It is shown by the company roll at Concord, that the men were 
allowed £3, each, being advanced pay for one month and £2 2S. 
each for "■ billeting'" or expenses to New York. 

It is also shown by the " Great Return" above referred to made 
by the selectmen, that in 177^ ^''^"'' Hollis soldiers sej'ved in the 
garrison at Portsmouth, for about three months, (as is supposed) , 
they having been paid by the town £4 los. each. The names of 
these men were John Atwell, Andrew Bailey, Phineas Hardy, and 
Phineas Hardy, Jun. . 

OTHER HOLLIS SOLDIERS IN 1776 IN CAPT. GOSS'S " RETURN." i 

In. addition to the soldiers, for 1776, whose names appear in the 
foregoing lists, I tind in the " Return" made by Captain Goss, the 



5776.] THE MOLLIS TOKIKS. 167 

names of twenty-five others who in his •'Return" are crediteci 
with wages varying from £2 to £12, each, for services, as would 
appear in another expedition to Ticonderoga under Capt. Emerson. 
The names of these men, with the amount credited" to eacii of them, 
appear in the list below. 

N;ah.inicl IJall, £o. Thomas Jaquilh, £2. Daniel Mooar, £.5. 

Elnathau Blood, 3. Nathaniel Jcwett, 6. John Pl-elps, i2. 

William lirown, ,(. Jacob Jewetl, 6. Richard Pierce, 6. 

Ephraim Hurgc, 4. James Jewttt, 4. William Pool, 4. 

Deacon Goodhue, '■,. ^^ 4. Stephen Jcwelt, 4. Edward Taylor, 3. 

John Goodhue, ' U.y 4. Edward Johnson, 12. Solomon Wheat, 3. 

Lemuel Hardy, 6. Daniel Lovejoy, 3. Ensit;n Willoughby, 6. 

John Ilobart, 3. Daniel Merrill, 4. Nehcmiali Woods, 4. 

Ebenezer Jaquith, 2. 

From the foregoing lists it appears that 125 Ilollis men were in 
the army the whole or a part of the year 1776, a number nearly 
equal to one in ten of the whole population. Tlie amount paid by 
the town in 1776, as wages and bounties, according to the Great 
Return, was £1018, 7s. 

THE HOLLIS TOIUES OK LOYALISTS. 

As has been, in another connection, already stated, there were in 
Ilollis, at the commencement of the war, four of its citizens, viz., 
Benj'kmin and Leonard Whiting, and Samuel and Thomas Cumings, 
who were understood by their fellow townsmen to be loyalists or 
tories and opposed to the independence of the colonies. To these 
four should probably be added Richard Cutts vShannon, a lawyer 
from Portsmouth who had settled in Ilollis just before the 
Revolution. 

About the first of March, 1776, or it ma} be somewhat earlier, 
the four men first named were summoned for trial, upon a charge of 
the character referred to, before the Conmiittees of Safety of the towns 
of Hollis, Dunstable, Merrimack and Litchfield. Upon the petition 
of the accused, shortly after the first of jSlarch, the case was trans- 
ferred for hearing to the New Hampshire General Court then sitting 
at Exeter. Capt. Reuben Dow. of Ilollis, as chairman of the 
Committees of Safety, appeared before the General Court and filed 
his complaint in their behalf with the evidence charging all the 
accused as "persons suspected of ])ciiig inimical to the Rights and 
Liberties of the United Colonies." The accused appeared at the 
trial by their counsel and inade their defence, and at the final hear- 
ing on the 20th of June, following, it was decided that the testimony 
was not sufficient to sustain the complaint and all of them were 



l68 THE MOLLIS TORIES. L'^77^' 

discharged.* But events very soon proved that the suspicions and 
charges of the Committees of Safe t}) were well grounded. 

In the same month of June, as shown by tiie court records, 
Thomas Cumings was indicted before the Superior Court, and gave 
bail for his appearance to the following September term of the 
Court to answer to the charge. In the meanwhile he left his family, 
the town and country, failed to appear, forfeited his bond and never 
returned. Some months later, Samuel Cumings and Benjamin 
Whiting left the town and State, both leaving their families, and 
remained "■ absentees," and all the three died in exile. The names 
of all of them, with those of seventy-three other New Hampshire 
tories, were embraced in the "Act of Banishment," passed by the 
New Hampshire General Court, in November, 177S — the estates of 
Samuel Cumings and Benjamin Whitiug were confiscated, all of 
them forbidden to return under the penalty of transportation, and in 
case of a second return, they were to suffer death. It is to be 
inferred that Thomas Cumings and Wliiting both died within a 
very few years after leaving the country, Grace Whiting, the 
deserted wife of Sheriff Whiting, (as appears from the Hollis 
records) having been married to Burpee Ames, of Hollis, May 28, 
1782, and upon her dtfcease, which occurred shortly after this mar- 
riage, Mr. Ames married for his second wife. Haimah Cumings, 
the deserted wife of Thomas Cumings. 

Capt. Leonard Whiting did not leave the country, but ccMitinued 
to reside in Hollis for many ^-ears after the way. Hut for a large 
portion of the years i777 '"^'^ ^77^ ^^^ ^^''^ imprisoned in the jail at 
Amherst, with several other accused persons, ull under the charge 
of being '' i)ii'}>iical to tJie RigJits and Liberties of tlic United 
Coiouies.'"\ It appears also that Richard Cutis Shannon, tiie Hollis 
lawyer, at the time, for a part of the year 1777 ^^'^'^ imprisoned in 
the jail at Amherst, with Whiting and others under the like charge. J 
Yet it seems tliat the offence of Mr. Shannon, whate\er it may have 
been, was afterwards so far forgotten or forgiven by tlie people of 
Hollis, that in the year 1782 he was chosen Representative of the 
town to the General Court. 



*Prov. P.-ipers, Vol. S, pp. 82, 106, 156. 
jN. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. S, p. 636. 
|N. H. Prov. P:ipers, Vol. S, pp. (kji, 656. 



[777'] WAK OF IHE KF.VOKUTION. 169 



CHAP T E R X V . 

'777- WAR OK THE REVOLUTION CONTINUED. COMMITTEE; OK 

SAFETY FOR 1777- HOLLIS SOLDIERS THE THIRD YEAR OF 

THE WAR. PATRIOTIC AGREEMENT OF FORTY-EIGHT HOLLIS 

MINUTE MEN. THE TICONDEROGA ALARM. COMPANY TO 

BENNINGTON. DEPRECIATION OF CONTINENTAL PAPER MONEY. 

HOLLIS COMMITTEE OF SAFETY IN L777- 

From the 7\nv?i Records. An. T. M. Marc// j, J77/. — 
*' Voted and chose for a Committee of Safety, this year, Capt. Noah 
Worcester, Ensign Stephen Ames, Capt. Daniel Kendrick, Oliver 
Lawrence and Jacob Jewett, and also voted that we will stand by 
the Committee of Safety and defend them and do all we can to assist 
them in the cause of liberty. Chose Ca])t. Daniel Emerson Powder 
keeper, and Capt. Reuben Dow, Capt. John (ioss, Capt. Daniel 
Emerson, Capt. William Read and Dea. John Boynton a committee 
to make out a list of the men who have been in the army, in defence 
of American liberty, and set a valuation on their services." 

At a town meeting held on the 25th of the following November, 
this committee, in respect to these services, made the following 
report which was then accepted by the town, including in the 
report the HoUis soldiers who afterwards, the same year, went to 
Bennington and Portsmouth. 

"1775. To Ciinibridgc, £1, los. per inontli, S nioiillis, £12, s. 

1776. To New York and Canada for the year, 24 

1776. To Ticonderojja, each lime, 12 

1776. To New York witli Capt. Reed, S 7 

1776. To New York with Capt. Walker, 4 

1777. To Bennington with Capt. Goss, . 7 
1777. To Portsmouth i month, 1 10" 



ijo WAR OF THK REVOLUTION. [^777 

THE town's (^^UOTA FOH THE CONTINENTAL ARMY. 

Special .Toxvn Meeting April 2^ ^777- "Voted to give each 
man that shall enlist for three years, or during the War to make out 
our Qiiota of thirty men £46, including the Continental and State's 
Bounty and to raise the money by Tax, and also that the Selectmen 
shall give Security to each man that enlists for the sum that is to be 
given to the thirty men by the town." 

THE town's C^UOTA FOR THE CONTINENTAI. ARMY. 

Adjcurned Special T'ojvn Meetings May 4. — Frofn the 
records. " The officers having received new orders to raise our 
men, (if they could not be got for three years, or during the war,) 
for eight or twelve months, if the town woidd supply their places 
with other men at the end of said time. Voted that the Committee 
appointed at this meeting should agree with the men for eight 
months. The Committee having reported that they had agreed 
with the men for eight months for £20, that sum was voted to them 
accordingly, and also that the Selectmen give security to the men 
to their satisfaction." 

HOLLIS SOLDIERS IN 1777, ' ^' "^"^J^" COntIN1:NTAL ARMY. 

In 1777' '"^s "^ ^^^ year preceding, the State of New Hampshire, 
under the laws and resolutions of Congress, was required to furnish 
three regiments for the regular Continental army, commanded sev- 
erally this year, as in 1776 by Colonels Cilley, Hale and Scammel. 
The men to be raised for these regiments were assigned by the New 
Flampshire State autJKjrities to the respective regiments of the State 
militia in proportion to their numbers and to the several towns, in 
accordance with the number of the militia in each town. The 
number so set to the town, was known as the town's " ^^uota" and 
the law made it the duty of the town to keep its "•Qj.iota" constantly 
fdled. The number set to Hollis, in this apportionment, was thirty^ 
and that lumilier continued to be the HolHs cjuota for the regular 
army, till near the end oi" the war. It is sliown by the returns of 
Col. Nichols, the commander of tlie regiment in 1777, to which the 
Mollis company of militia belonged, that i\\c thirty men whose 
names are in the lists below composed the Hollis quota for that 
year, antl were enlisted in the winter or spring of 1777. It appears 
from the same " return" that twenty of these men enlisted for three 
years and the rest for eight months. 



777-] 



CONTINENTAL SOLDIERS IN 1 777 



171 



For thyee years. 

David Ames, 
Daniel Blood, 
Isaac Boyntoii, 
Ebenezer Cumings, 
Edward Carter, 
William Connick, 
Jacob Danforth, 
Ralph Emerson, 
John Godfrey, 
William Hale, 



For three years. 

Samuel Ilill, 
Asa Lovejoy, 
Nathaniel Patten. 
Thomas Pratt, 
Stephen Richardson, 
David Sanderson, 
Ebenezer Townsend, 
Lebbcus Wheeler, 
John Youngman, 
Thomas Youngman, 



For eight months. 

John Ball, 
Andrew Bailey, 
Joel Bailey, 
John Brooks, 
John Boynlon, 3d, 
James Colburn, 
Jonathan Parker, 
Nehemiah Pierce, 
Eli Stiles, 
Jacob Taylor. 



Twenty of the men in the ahove lists enlisted in the sixth company 
of the I St New Hampshire regiment, cominanded by Capt. John 
House, of Hanover, the rest of them, with but one or two excep- 
tions, in the first company of the 3d regiment of which Isaac Frye 
of Wilton was Captain. Of this last named company Samuel 
Leeman, Jun., of Hollis, was the Ensign, and was killed at one of 
the battles at the taking of Gen. Burgoyne and his army at Sara- 
toga in October, 1777. All three of the New Hampshire Conti- 
nental regiments fought in these battles and acquitted themselves 
with their accustomed fidelity and heroism. After the capture of 
Burgoyne and his army, the theatre of war was removed further 
south to New Jersey and the vicinity of Philadelphia. The New 
Hampshire troops being formed into a distinct brigade, shared in all 
the services and hardships of the campaign in New Jersey and 
Pennsylvania. Kt the battle of Monmouth, a part of them, in- 
cluding the 1st New Hampshire regiment, under Col. Cilley, be- 
haved with such gallantry, as to merit and receive the particular ap- 
probation of Gen. Washington. 

Poorly shod, clad and fed, in the hard winter of i777~^' *^^^y 
patiently shared with their companions in arms the privations and 
sufferings at the ill-provided winter quarters in the huts at Valley 
Forge. The people of Hollis, at home, in the mean time, were 
not forgetful of the wants and sufferings of their townsmen in the 
firmy. 1 find from the Hollis documents still preserved, that about 
the first of January, 177S, there were collected by contribution, and 
sent to them in the camp at Valley Forge, "20 Fairs of Good 
Merchantable Shoes^ 20 Pairs of Good Wooleti Stockijigs^ 15 . 
Shirts made of Good Merchantable Cloth" besides many other . 
articles for the use and comfort of these soldiers. 



1/2 AGREEMENT OF THE UOLI.IS MINUTE MI:n. ['777- 

PA'IRIOTIC AGUEEMENr OK THE HOI. LIS MINUTE MEN. 

Early in May 1777, Gen. Burgoyne assumed command of the 
large British army in Canada, composed of British Regulars, 
Hessians, Tories and Indians, collected and organized for the inva- 
sion of the Northern States, in tlie hope and expectation of put- 
ting a speedy end to the so-called rebellion. At the same time a 
formidable British fleet was cruising along the coast of New 
England ready for an attack upon the sea-board. The whole north 
was in constant and fearful alarm, uncertain upon what points the 
gathering storm would first break. 

The patriotic agreement below presented, drawn up at this crisis, 
and in view of the impending perils, is in the hand writing of its first 
signer, Capt. Reuben Dow, and is still preserved. It has append- 
ed to it the original autograph signatures of forty-eight Hollis min- 
ute men, and tersely tells the manner and spirit with whicli they 
were ready to meet and to aid in welcoming the invaders. As the 
names of the signers merit honorable mention and grateful remem- 
brance, they are also presented. 

" HoEEES, May 15, 1777. "^ 

" Whereas it appears that the enemies of the United States of 
America are laying every Plan in their power to ruin and destroy 
us — and it being hourly expected tiiat a Fleet and Army will arrive 
on some part of our coast in order to prosecute their wicked pur- 
pose — we apprehend it to be the Duty of all the Inhaliitants of these 
States to be in the greatest Readiness and Preparation to exert them- 
selves in defence of their country in this hour of danger." 

"•Wherefore we whose names arc hereunto subscribed do 
promise and engage to equip ourselves inmiediately, with Arms, 
Ammimition, «&c., and to be ready at a minute's warning by night 
or by day, to go and assist our Brethren wherever tliey may be 
attacked — that upon an alarnu* we will immediately appear upon 
the Parade at the Meeting House in Holies, and be under the com- 
mand of such ofliccr and oflicers as we shall choose ourselves or the 
major part of us, and that each of us will be pruvidetl with a good 
Horse in order that we the sooner may get to the place attacked." 



An alarm war. thitc guns lired in quick succession. 



'777-J 



THE TICONDEROGA ALARM. 



"73 



" Reuben Dow, 
Daniel Emerson, Jun., 
Benjamin Abbot, 
Jonathan Ames, 
Benjamin Austin, 
Daniel Bailey, Jun., 
Eleazer Ball, 
William Ball, 
Daniel Blood, Jun., 
Francis Blood, 
Josiah Blood, 
Joshua Boynton, 
Eliphalet Brown, 
Ephraim Burge, 
Benjamin Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 



Robert Colburn, Jun., 
Josiah Conant, 
John Cumingfi, 
Evan Dow, 
Stephen Dow, 
Amos Eastman, Jun., 
Benjamin Farley, Jun., 
Christopher Farley, 
Ebenezcr Farley, 
Stephen Farley, 
Josiah French, 
Jacob Jewett, Jun., 
Thomas Kemp, 
Oliver Lawrence, 
Oliver Lawrence, Jun., 
Nathaniel Leeman, 



Enoch Noyes, Jun., 
Solomon Pierce, 
Nathan Phelp.s, 
John Platts, 
Francis Powers, 
Abel Shipley, 
Isaac Stearns", 
James Taylor, 
William Tenney, Jun. 
Moses Thurston, Jun. 
Joseph Wheat, 
William Wood, 
Noah Worcester, Jun., 
Benjamin Wright, 
Lemuel Wright, 
Uriali Wright." 



THE TICONDEROGA ALARM. 

About the 30th of June of this year, Gen. Burgoyne with his fleet 
and army advanced up Lake Chaniplain, towards the important 
fortress at Ticonderoga, and soon after arrived with his forces 
-it Crown Point, within a few miles of it, where he halted for a 
short time. Upon the news of this advance, known as the 
'■^Ticonderoga Alarw^" a company was at once enlisted and 
organized at Hollis to aid in the defence of Ticonderoga. This 
company consisted of fifty-eight men, inclusive of officers, fifty of 
whom were from Hollis. The commissioned officers of this com- 
pany were Daniel Emerson, Jun., Captain, Robert Seaver ist Lieu- 
tenant, and David Wallingford 2d Lieutenant, all of Hollis. The 
compaiw started from Hollis on tlie 30th of June, (the same day 
the British troops took possession of Ticonderoga) made a rapid 
march of sixty-five miles to Walpole, there had orders to return and 
reached Hollis again on the 4th of July. The next day the com- 
pany received orders to march a second time for Ticonderoga, 
started on the 5th of July, proceeded as far as Cavendish, Vermont, 
(one hundred miles) and there met a New Hampshire regiment, 
under Col. Bellows, on their retreat, Ticonderoga having been 
abandoned by its garrison. At Cavendish the company had orders 
a second time to return home, reached Hollis on the 15th of July 
and was disbanded. The wages of the private soldiers on these 
expeditions were three shillings a day, and three pence a mile for 
travel . 



.174 



HOLLIS COMPAN\ AT IJKNNINGTON. 



[1777- 



NAMES OF THE HOLLIS MEN IN THIS COMPANY. 



Danici Emerson, Jun., Capl. 
Robert Seaver, ist Lieut., 
David Wallingfoid, 2d Lieut. 
Josliua Boynton, Ser'gl, 
Ephraiin Huig^e, " 
Isaac Stearns, Corp., 
Noah Worcester, Jun., Fifer. 

Privates. 
Benjamin Abbot, 
Jonathan Ames, 
Eleazer Ball, 
William Ball, 
Daniel Bailey, 
Francis Bkx)d, 
Josiah Blood, 
Reuben Blood, 
Oliver Bowers, 



Eliphalet Brown, 
Benjamin Colburn, 
Stephen Conroy, 
William Cumings, 
Stephen Dow, 
Joseph Farley, 
Josiah Fibk, 
Nehemiah French, 
Lemuel Hardy, 
Noah Hardy, 
John Hobart, 
Joshua Hobart, 
Solomon Hobart, 
Ebenezer Jaquith, 
Ebenezer Jewett, 
Jonathan Jewett, 
Samuel Jewett, 



Nathaniel Leeman, 
Ephraim Lund, 
Samuel Merrill, 
Joseph Nevins, 
Elijah Noyes, 
Ephraim Pierce, 
Moses Proctor, 
Jacob Spalding, 
Moses Thurston, Jun., 
Ebenezer Townsend, 
Joseph Wheat, 
Abner Wheeler, 
Jonas Woods, 
Nehemiah Woods, 
Jesse Worcester, 
Lemvie! Wright, 
Uriali Wright. 



HOLLIS SOLDIERS AT BENNINGTON. 

Upon the news of the fall of Ticonderoga, the New Hampshire 
■General Court promptly met on the 17th of July, and, in a session 
pf three days, adopted the most decisive and vigorous measiu'es for 
the defence of the country and to .stop tlie advance of Gen. Bur- 
goyne. An appeal was made to the New Hampshire militia and 
minute men whicli was at once responded to with the like spirit 
and patriotic devotion as in the years before. In th.e course of a very 
few days a brigade composed of three regiments of New Hampshire 
•volunteers was enlisted and organized, and placed under tlie com- 
mand of the brave and popular Gen. Stark, two of these regiments 
consisting of ten conapanics each, and one of them of but five. These- 
regiments were commanded severally by Colonels Nichols of 
Amherst, Stickney of Concord, and David Hobart of Plymouth, to 
which place he had removed from Hollis, a few years before. Of 
the 6th compam' of Col. Nichols' regiment, John Goss was Captain 
^nd David Wallingford, 2d Lieutenant, both of Hollis. This coin- 
pany left Hollis on the 30th of Jidy, and was present and shared in 
•the honors of the brilliant and ever memorable battle and victory 
fought and won at liennington, mainly by the New Hampshire vol- 
untcers, on the Jbllowing i6th of August. The company afterwaids 
marched as far west as Stillwater, N. ^'., and was discharged oii 
the zSth of Se))tember, having been in service two months and nir.'i 
days. It is shcnvn by the Hollis documents and the ictui u of Capt, 
Goss now at Concord, that in his company there were foitv-two rnoM 



«777-] 



DEPRECIATION OF THE PAPEK CURHENCY 



'75 



from Hollis, inclusive of ofticers, and that the wages paid the private 
soldiers were .€4 los, per month, and 3d. per mile tor travel. The 
names of these men were 



John Goss, C.ipt-, Thomas Kemp, 

David Wallingford, Second lA. Archibald Mcintosh, 



William Adams, 
Simeon Blood, 
Henry Bowers, 
Eliphalet Brown, 
John Campbell, 
John Connick, 
Jonathan French, 
Timothy French, 
Stephen Ilazcltinc, 
Joshua Ilobart, 
Ephraim How, 
Joseph How, 



y 



James McDonald, 
Samuel Merrill, 
Daniel Mooar, Jun. 
Jacob Mooar, 
Benjamin Messer, 
Benjamin Nevins, 
John Nevins, 
Ephraim Pierce, 
Francis Powers, 
Samson Powers, 
James Rideout, 
Stephen Runnells, 



Jonathan Kuss, ^ 
ICphraim Rolfe, '' 
Jonas Shed, 
Isaac Stearns, 
Joseph Stearns, 
Ebenc/er Townsend, 
Abner Wheeler, 
William Wood, — 
Jonas Woods, 
Nehemiah Woods, 
Noah Worcester, Jun., 
Benjamin Wrif^ht, 
Samuel Wright, 
Jesse Wyman. 



Two other IloUis soldiers, viz., Samuel Goodhue and Jesse Wor- 
:cester, served a part of this year in the garrison at Portsmouth, and 
iwere paid by the town £1, los. each. 

: I do not find tliat any Hollis soldier, this year, died of disease in 
the service or was killed in battle, with the exception of Ensign 
Samuel Leeman,Jun., killed at vSaratoga, at the taking of Gen. 
Burgoyne and his army. He was the son of Samuel Leeman, 
Sen., and liorn in Hollis, Aug. 7, 1749, ait. 28 years at the time of 
his death. 

In the foregoing lists of the Hollis soldiers fourteen of the names 
occur twice, the men having enlisted more than once. Making the 
proper deduction, it will appear that tliere are in these lists one 
hundred and ten different names — a number equal very nearly to 
pnc in eleven of the population. 

THE AMOUNT PAID BY THI': TOWN IN 1777 '''"^^ BOUNTIluS AND 

WAGES WAS AS FOIAX^WS : 

£ s. 

To thirty Conlincnt.'il Soldiers, £.20 each, £660, 

To men in Capt.Jiinergon's Company, " Ticondcroga alarm," 38.4. " 

To men in Capt. Goss' Company to Bennington, <S:c., 234, 

To two men to Portsmouth, 3, 

f Making for this year £875, 4. 

DKI'KlCCIA'nON OF ITIE PAPEK CURKKNCV, AND THE LAW 
KEGUEATING PRICES. 

During most years of the war there was no money in circulation 
as a medium of exchange, except the Continental paper money 
ifesued by Congress or the bills of credit of the States. This currency 



.76 



UEPKECIATION OF THE PAPER CURRENCY. 



[5 777- 



was issued in .such quantities, both by the State and Congress, 
that both from its excess and also from the f:ict of its lieing exten- 
sively counterfeited, it begun to depreciate rapidly, and to an alarm- 
ing extent, as early as the second year of the war. This depreciation 
is very plainly indicated in comparing the wages paid to soldiers in 
1775 with those paid in 1777. In the former year the wages paid 
to the Hollis soldiers who were at Cambridge and Bunker Hill 
were £2, or about ^G.S'/^ per month, and id. a mile for travel. In 
1777 the wages paid to the Ilollis soldiers who went to Bennington 
and New York in July of that year, were £4 los. per month, and 
■^d. per mile for travel, nominally more than twice as much for wages 
and travel as in 1775. Both the General Court and the people be- 
came greatly and justly alarmed at this condition of the only currency 
then in use, and in the hope of lessening or wholly arresting the evil, 
the New Hampshire legislature, early in the spring of 1777^ passed 
a law limiting and regulating the prices at which the common 
necessaries of life might be sold. A portion of the articles named 
in this hiw w^ith the prices Hxed for them are presented below. 









s. 


1.1. 








s. 


(1. 




s. 


d. 


Wheat 


per 


bushel. 


7. 


6, 


Cheese 


per 


lb. 


0, 


6, 


Beef per lb. 


0, 


3> 


Rye 




•• 


4. 


t'l 


Butter 






P, 


in, 


Tow Cloth per yard. 


3, 


3. 


Indian 


Corn, " 


3. 


6, 


Coffee, 






1, 


4. 


Flannel " " 




6, 


Oats, 




'■ 


z, 


0, 


Cotton, 






3. 


0, 


Linen Cloth" " 




0, 


Peas, 






s, 


0, 


Wool, 






~, 


a. 


N. E. Rum, per .ijal.. 




10, 


Beans. 






6, 


t', 


I-lax, 






1, 


0, 


W. I. " " " 




8, 


Salt. 






10, 


0. 


Pork 






0. 


^.1-2 


, .Molasses. '• " 




0. 



DEPRI'.CIA riON OK THE P.^P]';R CURRENCY. 

On the second of June, 1777, a special town meeting in Hollis 
w^as summoned to consider what should be done by the town in ref- 
erence to this law, from the record of which meeting we make the 
follow^ing extracts : " Voted to choose a Committee agreeably to the 
late Act of the General Court, called An Act in addition to an 
Act regulating Prices of Sundry articles therein etmmeratedy 
and that Capt. Reuben Dow, Dea. Enoch Noyes, Capt. Noah Wor- 
cester, Capt. Daniel Kendrick, and Capt. Daniel Emerson, be said 
committee." 

At a subsequent special town meeting, on the ^Sth of Septem- 
ber of the same year, called to consider the same subject, the town 
passed the following vote: ''Voted that we highly disapprove of 
the conduct of any persons in endeavoring to forestall or unrea- 
sonably raise the prices of the necessaries of Life ; and that we will 



I 777-] r^KPRKClATIOX OF TIIK PAPKR CUKKEN'CV. 1 77 

hold every such person inimical to our j^rescnt cause ; and that 
we will treat all such Persons with neglect and will have no Dcal- 
hv^s with them, and tliat the Committee of Safety of the Town 
shall judge and determine wdien any Person shall transgress the 
true intent and meaning of this Vote, and shall post every such Per- 
son's name in the Public Houses in town and in the Public I'rints." 
But all these vigorous, well meant and patriotic efforts of the 
(icneral Court, town meetings, and 'Committees of Safety, to 
•check this growing evil, were wholly fruitless, and this paper cur- 
rencv. from month to month, continued to lessen in value, so that 
before the end of the war it became utterly worthless. The peo- 
ple of Ilollis. however, seem at last to have gained a sensible idea 
of the only practicable remedy for this excessive issue of irredeem- 
able promises to pay. as is shown by the doings and votes of a 
special town meeting on the 27th of November of this year. At 
this meeting, as appears from the record, the town " Voted, ist, 
To give our Representative, the following Instructions, viz., to use 
his Influence to s////^- our State moncv bv way of Taxes, and 3d, 
also Voted that it is our mind to pay a Tax of twelve double of 
what it was last year." 
(12) 



V-- 



178 WAR OF THK RKVOJ.UTION. [^77^' 



C H A P T K R X \^ J . 

DOINGS OF TlIK TOWN MEETINGS AND IllSTOKV OF THE WAR CON- 
TINUED. — COMMITTEE OF SAFETY IN 177S. SOLDIER's FAMI- 
LIES. CONTINENTAL SOLDIERS IN 1778. VOLUNTEERS FOR' 

RHODE ISLAND.— C:0MMITTEF: OF SAFETY IN 1 779- CONVEN- 
TION TO FL\ PRICES. CONTINUED DliPRECIATION OF PAPER 

MONEY. SMALL POX IN HOLLIS. 

RESOLUTIONS AND X'OTES OI<' THE TOWN MEETINGS IN 1 778. 

AriicJcs of Confederation ami I'liio)/. On the i^^th ofNovcnl- 
bcr. 1777: the Continental Cons^ress adopted articles of confedera- 
tion and per])etual nnion of the States, to be sidimitted to the State.^ 
severally for their appro\al. On the 19th of Jannarv. 1778. a town 
meeting" in Ilollis was called to consider, aniong other things, these 
articles of confederation, at which ihe toA\ ii's appro\ al of them was 
expressed as follows: '' \"oted vnumimousK our approbation of the 
articles of confederation and per])etiial union recommended by the 
Continental Congress to all the States." 

The 7\i\v)i' s ."i^Kota for the Ariiiv. .\lso at the same meeting", 
"Voted that the Alilitia Othcers. Selectmen and Committee of 
.Safety of the town agree \\ ith the men to sui:»plv the places of our 
eight months' i"neti as cheap as t!ie\' can. and give the security of the 
Town for their services in the Continental Army." 

Coiumittee of Safety for fy/H. Aiiimat Tov:ii Meeting-^ March 
2. 7778. •■ Chose foi" Committee of .Safety this year, Noah Wor- 
cester. Est}.. Mr. Oliver Lawrence. AJr. Edward Taylor, Dea. 
Enoch Noyes and aVIr. Nehcniiah Woods. Also \^oted that the 
.Selectmen take care of the Continental .Soldiers families if they 
stand in need." 

War 7 ax. Special Yown Afeetlng- April 6, lyyS. •• Voted to 
raise .€830, to be levied by a ']\ax on the Town to defray the chargen 
of otu" ten Continental men." 



1778.] WAR OF THE RKV()I,lIT]ON. I 79 

Soldiers' Pamilies. "Voted that Capt. Daniel Emerson, James 
Jewett and Jonathan Taylor, be a Committee to provide for the 
Continental Soldiers' Families, and that thcv have the Necessaries 
of life at the price stated in 1777- 'i^d that the o\erplus be paiti oitt 
of the To~jcn Treasury.''' 

Representatives to Concord. '• Chose Noali Worcester, Esq., 
and Dea. Enoch Noyes to represent this Town in the General Con- 
vention of the State to be held at Concord on the loth of June 
next." 

This convention was called in pursuance of a resolution of the 
General Court, to agree upon and present to the people for their 
acceptance a system or '' Plan for a State Government."* It ap^ 
pears that the plan of government agreed upon and proposed by 
this convention, on being submitted to the people, was rejected.! 

Soldiers for Rhode Islaiid. Special Toivn Meeting, yune 
75, 1778. From the Tozvti Records. '^ A*" a meeting of the In- 
habitants of the town of Hollis, called on account of orders from 
Col. Nichols for four men to be raised from this town to go to Prov- 
idence to join Col. Peabody's regiment. Voted to give to each man 
that will enlist £3 3s. 6d. per month from the time thev shall en- 
list till discharged, and that if enough do not enlist, that the men 
who are drafted and go and serve shall receive the same sum ; and 
also voted that the Selectmen join with tlie commissioned officers 
to draft men at all times when there is occasion."' 

Soldiers' Families. Special 7\nvn J\/eetino\ Oct. j. 1778, 
"Voted that the Committee appointed to take care of the Conti- 
nental Soldiers' families adhere strictly to the law of the .State, in 
respect to them, and that they take care of the families of the 
Widows' Cumings and Wheeler as if their husbands were alive." 
The deceased soldiers referred to in this vote were Ebenezer Cum- 
ings and Lebbeus Wheeler, both of whom enlisted for three years in 
the Continental army in the spring of 1777. Cumings had died in 
the army of small pox, leaving (as appears from the Hollis records 
of births) a widow and eight children, among whom was Jacob 
Abbot Cumings, born Nov. 2, 1772, afterwards a graduate of Har- 
vard College, and the author of Cummings' .School Geography and 
other literary works. Wheeler was a son of Peter Wheeler, born 
in Hollis. October 15. 1750, and died in the army of "disease or 
wounds," July 10, 1778, leaving a widow^ and one child. 



*Prov. Papers, Vol. S, pp. 774 — J. 
t Belknap, p. 38.1. 



iSo KECRl'lTS FOR THK CONTINENTAL ARMY. [^77^- 

Rcprcsoitativc to General Court. Special Toxcn Meetings 
Dec. 7. /yyS. '' Chose Capt. Reuben Dow to represent the town 
in the General Assembly to he held at Exeter on the y\ ^\'ednesdav 
ot DeeenilKM" next." 

i;ilcruit.s for -riiE coxtinkxtal army. 

In the montli of J;innary. 177S, ten men were wanted to till the 
Ilollis Continental quota to supply the ])laces of the men who had 
enlisted for eight months only. On the 19th of that month, as we 
haAe seen, a speeial town meeting was prompth' ealled to supply 
this delieiency, and tlie vSelectmen, Committee of Safet\' with the 
militia ofHeers, were instruetedto engage the men and to pledge the 
.security of the town for their services. It is shown l)v the returns 
of Col. Nichols, (now at Concord) that these ten recruits were very 
.soon engaged and that most of them were mustered into the com- 
pany of Capt. John House, in the 1st New Hampshire Continental 
regiment. It appears from the '• Great Return " of the Selectmen 
of Hollis, that nine of them were paid from £40 6s. Sd. to £'^0 
each. Their names were 

Joliii Aulil, Jolui Cnni-fiy.Jun., Jacnli Danlorth. 

RculiLii IJloDcI, .Stcphun Oiiiroy, iVatlianicl Patten, 

.Simeon Blood, William Cowen. Joel Proctor. 
Samuel Boyd, 

It is stated in the return of Col. Nichols that Auld and Cowen 
belonged to Merrimack, and Boyd U) Goftstown. but that they were 
all enlisted for and paid by Hollis. It appears from the rolls at 
Concord, that John Conroy,Jun., died in hospital at Danburv, Conn., 
in September of this year. He was the oldest son of John Conrov, 
Sen., and born in Hollis, December 28, 1761. Daniel Blood, 
another Hollis soldier, who enlisted for three years, in the spring of 

1777, died in the army of " wounds or disease," November 38, 

1778, making a loss by death this year of four of the Hollis 
Continental cjuota.* 

Men in Co/. Peadoc/y.s- Regiment. About the middle of June 
of this year, a lirigade of New Hampshire troops was raised for 
service in Rhode Island, commanded by Brig. Gen. Whipple. 
One of the regiments of this brigade was commanded by Col. 
St ephen Peabody, of Amherst. In the Second company of this 
regiment, of which Ezekiel Worthen of Kensington, was Captain, 
were three Hollis soldiers, viz., Jonathan Jevvett, Oliver Lawrence 

*Kidder'.s History of First N. H. Regiment, p. 1.54. 



177S.] VOLUNTEERS FOK RHODE ISLAND IN 177S. 181 

and Enoch Spalding. The regiment was discharged June 3, 1779, 
having been in the service six months and twenty-five days. The 
wages of the men were ^£4 los. per month, and they were allowed 
for travel in going to Rhode Island 3d. per mile, and Sd. per mile on 
their return home. The town paid the three llollis men a l)ounty 
of £6 each. 

HoUis Volunteers to Rhode Lsta/id in Ano'/ist^ ^77^- i'he 
brigade of Gen. Whipple was raised in the summer of 1778 to 
reinforce the Continental army in Rhode Island in a proposed attack 
upon the British troops then in possession of the island of Rhode 
Island. In this attack it was expected that a pow^erfid French fleet, 
then on the coast, under the command of Admiral Count D'Estaing, 
would co-operate with the arm>-. But the fleet having been dis- 
abled and dispersed by a violent storm just before the time fixed for 
the intended attack, the expedition failed. 

About the 6th of August of this year, a com]:)any cf volunteers to 
aid in this expedition was raised in Hollis. The company, includ- 
ing its ofiicers, consisted of forty-three men. It was commanded by 
Capt. Daniel Emerson, and was the ist company of a regiment 
commanded by Col. Moses Nichols of Amherst. The men were in 
the service from the 6th to the 28th of August, and were then dis- 
charged, in consequence of the misfortune to tlie French fleet. The 
wages of the private soldiers in this expedition were at the rate of 
£5 per month, and 8d. per mile for travel, one hundred miles each 
way, in going and returning. They were als(-) paid liy the town 
.£1 3s. each. It is to be inferred also that the men were all mounted 
and furnished their own horses, as it is shown 1)\ tlic return of Col.' 
Nichols that the company had forty-three horses, for w hicli they 
were allowed £10 each, making £430. The roll below ])rescnts a 
list of this company with its officers, all from llollis. 

Danitl Emerson, Ciipt., Xuthiinicl Bhioil, Jun.. Jacoli Jew i_u. ^d., 

Caleb Farley, Liout., riiuothy Rlooil, DankI Kiniln'iU, 

William Brooks, Ensign, 'riionias Carter, Asa Law rciiif, 

Daniel Bailey, Sergeant, Benjamin Colburii, Daniel Jlerrill, ]ini., 

Josiah Conant, •' Reuben Dow, Samuel Merrill, 

Stephen Runnells, •' josiah Fisk, Fi^lijah Noyes, 

Abel Conant, Corporal, Jonas Flasrg, Joiuithan Parker, 

Elias Boynton, " Jonathan F'rencli, William W. Pool, 

Evan Dow, •■ Stephen CJooclhui,-, Epliraiin RoHe, 

Andrew Bailey, FiK-r. David Hale, Jacob Spaldijii;, 

Privates. Jolm Hale, Jun., Joseph Wheat, 

Benjamin Abbot, . Noah Hardy, Jf;nas Woods, 

David Ames, Joshua Hobart, Noah Worcestir, Sen., 

John Atwell, Solomon Hobart. Jesse Woreeili'r. 

Nathaniel Blood, Jolm H(av. 



iSz CONTINENTAL Cy:jOTA KOK I779. ['7/9- 

It may he seen from the forcj^oing data, that inckidiug the town's 
cjuota of thh'ty Continental soldiers, Ilollis in i77^ ^^'"^^^ seventy-six 
men in the service, for the whole or a part of that year. 

VOTKS ANO KESOLl'TIONS OI'" TJIIC rOWN MliETlNGS IX I 779- 

Comniitfcc of Safety. Aunual 7^o~v/i Meetings March 7, ///p. 

'' Voted and chose Noah Worcester, Esq., Mr. Oliver Lawrence, 
Mr. Jacob Jewett, Ensign .Stephen Ames and Mr. Edward Taylor, 
Committee of Safety, Correspondence, and Inspection." 

Soldiers Faiiiilicf:. " Voted that the Overseers of the Poor take 
care of the Continental Soldiers" Families, and have particnlar 
regard to the families of those that have died in the army." 

Capt. Leoimrd \\7//fi//fs Ji'ar Rafc. '-Mr. Samnel Chamber- 
lain, one of the constables of Hollis, having informed the town that 
Capt. Leonard Whiting refnsed to pav his War Tax, Voted to 
defend saitl Cliamberlain and that he he indemnified in recovering 
the same, so far as he has acted according to law." 

qifOJA OF CONTINKXTAI. SOLDIERS. 

special 7'r5ti7/ Meeiiiio-. Marc// JJ . //'/(). "Chose Noah Wor- 
cester, Esq., Capt. Renben Dcnv. and Capt. Daniel Emerson, to 
take the method they shall think best and proper to get onr Qiiota 
of Continental men." 

Special l\r,^-u Meeting, Juiy .f, I7l9- " Voted that the Com- 
jiiittee chosen at the last meeting l)e joined with the vSelectmen, ami 
Militia officers to assist in getting our Continental jNIen. either by 
draft or otherwise as they shall think best for the town." 

Special Toivii Meeting, fidy rg^ ^779- " Voted ist, to raise 
the men called for to llll up the New Hampshire Battalions, being 
ovu" proportion of the CoiUinental Army, as a town for one year, 
and chose Ensign Jeremiah Ames, Dr. Jonathan Fox, and Jacob 
Jewett, Jun.. a Committee to hire for one year our nine Continen- 
tal Men." 

•' Z(\. Voted that said Committee be empowered to give the 
Town's Security to each of said nine men for an}- sum of money 
that they may agree with them for. and the Town to be responsible 
to said Committee iox said vSums, and the Committee's trouble in 
raising said men, and that the Selectmen be empowered to assess 
the Polls and Estates of this town the sum of monev that it shall 
cost to raise said men." 



'79-] 



CONTIXKNTAI, (^JL'OTA KOJl I 779. 



I S3 



On the 2(\ of August, about two weeks utter this hist meeting, this 
committee made their report in writing to tiie town showing that 
they had engaged eight of the nine men wanted, with their names 
and tlie bounties agreed to be paid to each of them for the year's 
service. 

A copy of this report is presented below us follows : 
" The Inhabitants of the Town of Holies to Jeremiah Ames, 
Jonathan Fox and' Jacob Jewett, Jun., a Committee chosen by said 
Town to agi"ee with and hire nine men to go into the Continental 
Army for one year for said town. Dr. 

" Auff. 2, IJ/Q- To cash and our security given to Eight »ien 
as a Boioity from said 7hzcn to <ro into said service. 



To Caleb Stiles, Cash, £300 


" Caleb Stiles, Jun., 


" £300 


" Ephraim Pearce. 


£300 


" Francis G. Powers, 


" £300 


" Jerathinael Bowers, 


•• £300 


" Jacob Hobart, 


'.' £300 


" Joseph Stearns. 


" i^'TT 


*' Simeon Foster, 


•' £210 



Lawful Moniv, 



Holies. Au< 



li.iS;. 



10 Uushels of Rye. 
10 Bushels of Rye. 
10 Bushels of Rye. 
ID Bushels of Rye. 
10 Bushels of Rye. 
10 Bushels of Rye. 
17 Bushels of Rye. 
10 Bushels of Rvc. 

S7 Bushels of Rvc. 



10 Do. of Ind. Corn. 
10 Do. of Ind. Corn. 
10 Do. of Ind. Corn. 
10 Do. of Ind. Corn. 
10 Do. of Ind. Corn. 
10 Do. of Ind. Corn. 
JO Do. of Ind. Corn. 
10 Do. of Ind. Corn. 

90 Bushs. Ind. Corn. 
Jeremiah Ames. 
Jonathan Fox. 
J.\coii Jewett, Jun." 



'779- 



'llie '• Return" of Col. Nichols for the regiment shows that the 
ninth man enlisted for the town under this call was Joseph Wheat, 
. ])ut it tloes not appear what boimt\- was paid him. 

\()Ll'.\ rilKUS KOU RIIODK ISL.VND .\ND PORTSMOUTH. 

In the spring or simimer of this year a regiment of New 
Hampshire troops was raised for service in Rhode Island, com- 
manded by Col. Hercules Mooncv. of Lee. In this regiment were 
six Hollis men, viz., Daniel Emerson. ]un.. wiio was captain of the 
^th company, Dr. Peter Emerson, a brother of Captain Emerson, 
(the surgeon of the regiment.) Daniel Bailey. Daniel Kendrick, 

John Hobart. and Samuel Emerson, another l)rother of Capt. 
Emerson, then in his fifteenth year, afteiwards a gi ;uliiate of Harvard 
college, and an eminent physician. The men were tlischarged on 
the first of January. 1780. having been in the service near six 
months. The wages of the private soldiers were £13 per month. 
Bounty paid by the town, £9. All owed fortravel to Providence 

2s. per mile — from Providence, home, 3s. per mile. 



184 CONTINENTAI, q_UOTA FOR 1 779- ' [^779* 

Tlic orit^niial commission of Capt. Emerson, as a Captain in this 
regiment, signed by Meshech Weare, President of the New 
Hampshire Conncil, has been preserved in the family of a granci- 
son, and a copy of it is presented below. 

The GovcrjiDioit a//d people of tJie State of Avv" ria»ipsJiirc 
to Daniel Emerson^ Rsq.^ Grcetiiii^., 

\ Scal^ \ 

" We reposing especial trnst and conlidence in your courage and 
good conduct, do by these Presents constitute and appoint you the 
said Daniel Emerson, Captain of a company in a regiment raised 
within said State, for the defence of the .State of Rhode Island, of 
which regiment Hercnies Mooiiev, Esq.. is Colonel, "^'ou are there- 
fore carefully and diligently to (.lischarge the duty of a Captain in 
leading, ordering and exercising the saiil compan\ in arms, both 
inferior ofHcers and soldiers, and to keep them in good order and 
discipline, and thev arc hereby required and commanded to obey 
you as their C aptain, and \ov\ are yourself to ()bser\e antl follow 
such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time receive 
from the General and Commander-in-Chief of the Coitinental 
ForccSy or any other your superior officers according to Mditarx 
Rules and Discipline in war in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. 

In Testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of said State to be 
herevmto affixed. 

Witness, Meshech Weare, Escp, the President of our Council. 
at Exeter this 30th day of June, A. D., i77y- 

M. \Veaj;k. 

E. Thompson, Secretary. 

It also appears from the Re\ olutionary rolls. preser\ ed in 
Concord, that in the year 1 779, John (iloodhue. Joseph llarily and 
Silas Ilarch', all of Ilollis, enlisted in the company of Capt. 
llezekiah Lo\ejo\, to serve for six months in the garrison at 
Portsmouth. 

At a special town meeting Aug. 25th of this year, '• Voted to 
allow Dea. Enoch Noyes £21 2s., and Xoah Worcester. Est[.. t'46 
9s. for services in attending the Convention to agree upon and set- 
tle a Plan of .State Government," also at the same meeting. '• chose 
Col. John Hale to represent this town in tlic Coiuention to lie hchl 
at Concord on the zt^A of Septembei' next." 



1779-] PLAN FOR FIXING PRICES. 185 

This was a general convention of tlelej^atcs from the State, called 
together in the vain hope of being able to devise some farther ex- 
pedients to arrest the rapid depreciation of the paper currency by 
limiting and regulating the prices of the necessaries of life. The 
extent at this time of this alarming depreciation may l)e readily in- 
ferred by comparing the wages and bounties paid to soldiers at the 
beginning of the war, with those paid, as may be seen above, in the 
month of August, 1779. In 1775, the wages paid by the town to 
the eight months' men who went to Cambridge were £1 los. per 
month, or at the rate of £iS per year. In 1776, the men who en- 
listed for the year were paid in all £24 by the town, or at the rate 
of £3 per month. In i779 there were paid by the tow'n to the 
Hollis soldiers for a years' service,* £300 and 10 bushels of rye. and 
10 bushels of corn. 

The Concord conventic^n, as appears, met as proposed, and 
agreed upon a schedule f>f ]:)i-ices of certain commodities and ne- 
cessaries, leaving it for the towns to state and limit the prices of 
others. The convention having hnishetl its work, a town meeting 
was called on the following 3ist of October to consider the report 
and proceedings of that body ami to determine what further should 
be done by the town. From the record of this meeting w"e quote 
as follows : 

PLAX OF IIXIXC; PRICKS BY rilE COXCORD COX\FNTIOX. 

special Vo'Cii Meeting., Oct. 2r. J'/y^). " Voted unanimously 
our entire approbation of the Proceedings of the Convention held at 
Concord, in September last .Stating Prices, &c." " Voted to pur- 
sue the Plan laid down bv the Comention for Stating Prices, and 
to State the Prices for articles for this town, not stated by the Con- 
vention — to see the Plan carried into eflcct — and to correspond with 
other towns, — anil chose Col. John Hale, Capt. Daniel Kcndrick, 
Dea. John Poynton, Capt. John Goss, Ephraim Burge, l']benezer 
Runnells, Jacob Jewett, Christopher Farley, Josiah Fisk and Lt. 
Ebenezcr Jewett, said Committee: .Vdjourned to Nov. 16. 

Adjoiiriieit Toicii Meeting. iVov. j6. lyyg. " Voted to accept 
the Report of the Conuuittee." 

In the mean time, previous to the i6th of Xo\ember. the fore- 
going committee prepared their report and submitted it to the 
meeting held on that day. The report was then accepted In the 
town as shown liy the record of the meeting as follows: 



l86 DEPRECIATION OF FAl'EK MONEY. [l779- 

Adjourned TtKVit Mcciino-. Nov. i6. JJJQ- " Voted to accept 
the Report of the Committee appointed on the 21st of October, and 
that each person in town govern himself accorchngly under the 
pcnaliy of being treated as an eneniv of //is Cou)itr\. ami that 
copies of the same be posted up in the piil>lic houses in town 
attested' by the town clerk. 

"At this meeting a paper that had been set up at RunncU's 
(Mills) by order of the town, attested by the town clerk, being- 
brought in and exhibited to the meeting much defaced, upon view 
of which, the Town voted unanimously their resentment of the 
matter, and that the Committee shoidd enquire into the affair and 
report at the next meetmg.'' 

Zachariah Lawrence jfun.. a //d //is offence. It appearing from 
the reportof the committee to the next town meeting, held on the 9th 
of December, that Zachariah Lawrence, Jun., was guilty of defac- 
ing the paper containing the list of prices set up by the town clerk 
at Runnells. " Voted that the Committee of vSafety be empowered 
to settle the aflair with Zachariah Lawrence, Jun.. for his offence 
in defacing a certain paper as they shall think proper, and that 
if said Lawrence refuses to settle to their satisfaction to pursue him 
in the law and make report to tlie town as soon as mav be." 

SCAI.K OF DEPllECIATION OI' PAl'EIt .M()NE\. 

In the vear 17S1. the New Hampshire General Court prepared 
and adopted what was called an '• .Vutliorized .Scale of Depreciation 
of Continental Paper Money." in accordance with vshich. contracts 
made at different dates during the war miglit be equitably settled 
with silver mones . The follo\\i ng table c()[)ied from that scale 
indicates the value of t'loo in silver as compared \\ ith its ecjuiva- 
lent in Continental paj^ei' monev in diHerent \ears as tixed by tlie 
General Court. 

JuiK-. 1777. .CiOd in silver i-cjual ti> £i Jn C<>iitiiH-nt;il p;»pcr. 

■■ £57.*<. 

" illJIMXJ 

After the last date Continental paper nionex became W(.>rthless. 

SMALL POX LN HOLLLS. 

It is stated by Re\-. Grant Powers, in his Centeimial address, 
tlelivered in 1830, "That in the vear 1779 the small pox broke out 



1777. 


.CiOd i 


.77S. 


£uxj 


1771), 


XlLX- 


i7S(., 


£icxj 


17S1, 


£100 



I 779-] SMALI. POX IN IIOM.IS. 187 

in the town, supposed to have been communicated by the Enemy of 
our Country, and two houses were improved as Hospitals. One of 
these houses was afterwards owned and occupied by Lemuel 
Wright, and the other by James Rideout. In the last named of 
these houses there were at one time more than one hundred 
patients. About one hundred and fifty j^ersons were inoculated, of 
whom three died, and five others who took the disease from 
exposure to the infection, also died." 

It appears from the town records that Col. John Hale was put in 
charge of these hospitals, with a supervisory committee, consisting 
of " Noah Worcester, Stephen Ames. Oliver Lawrence, Capt^-'s 
Daniel Emerson. Solomon Rogers, Dea. Stephen Jewett and 
Edward Taylor, who were to take security of Col. Hale and place 
him luider proper restrictions." 



jS8 war of the revolution. [1780. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

1780 AND I 78 1. VOTES AND RESOLUTIONS. MOLLIS CONTINENIAI- 

q_UOTA. WAGES OF SOLDIERS. MILITIA FOR WEST POINT AND 

NORTHERN FRONTIER. THEIR WAGES AND BOUNTIES. TAXES 

ASSESSED TO PAY THEM. BEEF FOR THE ARMY IN 1 780, 17S1. 

— -REDUCTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE TROOPS. REDUCTION OF 

ITIE HOLLIS Q_UOTA. TWELVE CONTINENTAL SOLDIERS CALLED 

FOR AND ENGAGED. THEIR NAMES. BEEF FOR THE ARMY IN 

1 78 1 AND HOW OBTAINED. THE TOWN DIVIDED INTO CLASSES. 

NEW CALL FOR TWELVE SOLDIERS. RUM FOR THE ARMY. — 

REPRESENTATIVE IN I 78 1. 

VOTES AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE TOWN MEETINGS IN 1780. 

Annual 7\nv)i Meetings ^larch d, lySo. "Chose Ephraim Burge, 
Lt. Ebenezer Jewett and Ebenezer Runnclls a committee to take 
care of vSoldiers' Families, and voted that the Selectmen and com- 
missioned officers settle with the Rhode Island men for 1779 and 
the men who went to Portsmouth last Fall, as to what they shall 
receive on account of the fall of Money, agreeably to our agree- 
ment with tliem, and also voted that Ebenezer Runnells, Noah 
Worcester and Jacob Jewett l)e a committee to procure the Grain 
for the last Continental men and settle with them and that the Select- 
men assess the amuimt on the Polls and Estates of the town." 

No new Connnittee of Safety was chosen this vear or after 1779. 

Ri;CRUITS FOR THE CONTINENTAL ARMY 

Special Town Meeting, Jnnc 28, /jSo. It is shown b\ the 
record of a special town meeting held [une iSth of this \ear, tliat 
there was then a deficiency of nine men in the Mollis Continental 
(luota. \t this meeting the town " voted to hire nine able-bodied 
men to seive in the Continental Army till the last tlay of December 
iie\t, and that Jonathan Fox, Jacob Jewett, Jun.. and Ephraini 



' Niithaniel Patten, 


£510 


' Asa Lovcjny, 


£210 


■ Abel Lovejoy, 


£210 


• Jesse Worcester, 


'• £210 


• Lemuel Blood, 


£210 


• Reuben Blood, 


£210 


• Nathaniel Blood. 


" £210 


Lawful Money, 


£2,190 



17S0.] MILITIA TO WEST POINT. 189 

Bnrge be a committee to hire said men. and to give security in 
behalf of the Town in any way they think proper," On the 4th of 
July, within a week after this meeting, this committee made the fol- 
lowing report of its doings : 

-' The Inhabitants of the Town of Hollis to Jonathan Fox, 
Jacob Jewett, Jun., and Ephraim Burge as a committee 
chosen by said Town to agree with and hire nine men to go 
into the Continental Army for six months for said Town. Dr. 

'Jiilv 4. 1780. To cash and our security given to nine men. Viz. 

To Jacob Danforth, Cash, £210. 90 Bushels of Rye, & 10 Bushels of liui Corn. 

" Stephen Conroy, " £210 & 90 " " 

79 

90 " " and one Blanket. 

90 " " and one Blanket. 

90 " " and one Blanket. 

90 " " and one Pair of Shoes. 

90 " " and one Pair of Shoes. 

go " '■ and one Pair of Shoes. 

799 Bushels of Rye, 3 Blankets, 3 Pair of Shoes. 
N. B. The wages of the nine si.x months' men belong to the Town." 

It appears from the above note that the full amount of the wages 
of these men was paid in advance by the town, the men being 
unwilling, probably on account of the state of the currency, to give 
credit to tlie vState or Congress. 

MILITIA TO WEST POINT. 

It is shown also by the "Great Return" of the Selectmen of 
Hollis before often referred to, that Abel BJood, another Hollis sol- 
dier, enlisted at the same time with these nine, in the Continental 
army, and was paid the like amount of wages. 

MILITIA FOR WEST POINT AND THE NORTHERN FRONTIER. 

Early in July of this year a further call was made upon the town 
for fifteen men for three months to aid in the defence of West 
Point, and for three others to serve for six months on the northern 
frontier. On the 3d of July a town meeting was called to act upon 
this subject, and also to raise money to pay the " nine" men who 
had enlisted in the Continental army. 

Special Tozvn Meeting-, y^^h' 3^-> ^7^0. Extracts from t/ic 
Record, '' Voted that the Selectmen procure the money for the 
nine men the committee have engaged the best wa}' they can, and 
that Dr. Jonathan Fox, Jacob Jewett, Jun., and Ephraim Burge be 
•a committee to assist in raising the eighteen men now called for." 



190 MEX FOR WEST POINT. [lySl. 

Within about two weeks after this meeting, this committee made 
report to the town that they had procured fourteen of the men for 
three months to go to West Point and tv\'o of those to serve on the 
northern frontier. The bounties agreed upon for the men to go to 
West Point were to be paid wholly in eitlier rye or corn, as follows : 
to one of them thirty-five bushels of rye ; to two others, thirty 
bushels of corn each ; to another, forty-five bushels of corn ; to each 
often others, fifty Inishels of corn. These fourteen men were all to 
retain their government wages. To Simeon Blood and Thomas 
Youngman, the two men engaged to serve for six months on the 
northern frontier, the committee agreed to pay ninety bushels of rye 
and £310 each in money. — ^'tJic govcrnvicnt ivagcs of these tivo to 
helo7ig to the toivn'"' It appears from the "•Great Return," that two 
others, paid the like bounties with the fourteen, were engaged for 
West Point, making sixteen for that place, and the whole eighteen 
called for from the town. 

XAMES Ol'' THE MEN FOR WEST POINT. 

Andrew Bailey, Jesse Hanly, Silas Lawrence, 

Richard Bailey. Leirmel Hardy, Nathaniel Eeeman, 

Josiah Blood, Lieut. Ebenezer Jewell. Daniel Merrill, Jun., 

[ohn Conroy, Jacob Jewett, 3d., Stephen Parker, 

Stephen Dow, Nicholas Lawrence. Francis Grant Powers. 
Jonas Flagg, 

These sixteen men were enlisted in the company of Cant. 
William Rarron, in a regiment commanded by Col. Nichols. It 
is shown l)y the regimental rctiu'ns now with the army rolls at 
Concord, that these men were enlisted July 6, 17S0. and were dis- 
charged on the 32d of the following October, having been in the 
service three months and sixteen days. The wages paid by the 
government w^ere £134 per month and 6s. per mile for travel. It 
is stated in the Hollis Centennial address, that Francis Grant 
Powers, one of these sixteen soldiers, was killed at Crown Poirrt. 
He was a son of Francis Powers, and a grandson of Capt. Peter 
Powers, tlie first settler of Hollis. and was born January S. 1764. 

PAY ]"OR THE HOLLIS SOLDIERS. 

" Special Toxv)i Meeti>ig. November 33. 17S0. Chose Dr. 
Jonathan Fox, Jacoli Jewett, Jun.. and Mr. Ephraim Burge a 
committee to settle with the soldiers they have hired and report (o 
the town what sum of money to raise. Adjourned to December 
5." Adjo7irncd Special Tovjn Meetings December 5, 17S0 



1 781.] REDUCTION OV NEW HAMPSIIIUE QIJOTA, I9I 

The committee above appointed liaving reported in respect to the 
soldiers, " Voted to raise £33,000 to pay the money borrowed for 
said soldiers, and to procure the grain engaged to the three and six 
months men, and that Capt. Daniel Emerson, Mr. Ephraim Burge 
and T.ient. Ebcnezcr Jewctt be a committee to purchase said grain." 

I5EEF FOR THE ARMY. 

The town in August of this year was called upon to furnish 
16,000 pounds of beef for the army, and at a town meeting held on 
the 31st of August the town voted a tax of £25,000 for the purchase 
of this 16,000 lbs. of beef, being at the rate of £1 lis. 6d., or some- 
what more than $5 per pound. On the 23d of November, 1780, 
Col. John Hale w-as chosen to represent the town in the General 
Court to be holden at Exeter on the 3d of the following December. 

REDUCTION OK NEW HAMPSHIRE TROOPS IN 1 78 1.. 

By an act of the General Court, passed January 12, 1 781, the 
number of New Hampshire troops for the regular army was reduced 
to one thousand three hundred and fifty-four, to be organized into 
two regiments, and to serve for three years or during the war. 

The number of men to be furnished for this force l)y Hollis was 
reduced from thirty, the old quota, to a new quota of but twenty. 
At that date, as appears from the army rolls, there were nine 
Continental soldiers in the army, who had been previously enlisted 
to serve during the war. The names of these soldiers were 

Samuel Boyd, Stciihcn Richardson, Eli Stiles, 

Thomas Pratt, Lemuel Rogers, Joseph Wheat, 

Joel Proctor, David Sanderson, Jabez Youngman. 

Boyd, Pratt, Proctor, Richardson, Sanderson and Youngman 
enlisted in the ist New Hampshire regiment, and were in that 
regiment December 31, 1783, and afterwards, as supposed, till the 
yegiment was discharged in 1783.* 

The time of the service of a large part of the Hollis quota having 
expired about this time, a town meeting was summoned on the 19th 
of February, 1781, to supply such deficiencies as might exist in the 
new quota. At this meeting Capt. Daniel Emerson, Dr. Jonathan 
Fox and Mr. Ephraim Burge were appointed a committee to enquire 
into the subject, to engage the soldiers w^anted, and to make report 
to the next town meeting. This committee afterwards, at the 

♦Kidder's Histarj- of tst N. H. Regiment, p. 162. 



192 COXTIXKXTAI. (^I'OTA. [l7^'- 

adjourned ajiniud town meeting held on the I2tli of March, made 
report, tliat twelve men were then wanted to complete tlie new 
quota. Upon this report being made, the town, at that meeting, 
instructed this committee to engage the men, and to give security 
in behalf of the town for such wages or bounties as they should 
agree witli them for, and also \oted a war tax of £Soo for the war 
charges of the year, and appointed " Noah Worcester, Esq., 
Jonathan TaNlor and John Atwcll. a committee to hire the money 
till this tax could be collected." 

liEEF VOR 'rilE ARAn" IX 1781. 

The town also at the same meeting voted a tax of £Soo, " new 
emission." to pmxhase the town's quota of beef for this year, and 
appointed Capt. Daniel Emerson. Ephraim Burge and Jeremiah 
Ames a committee to procure it. The report of the committee for 
hiring these twelve men is not found, and is probabl}' lost. But the 
returns and army rolls at Concord show that they all enlisted for 
three years, and the returns of the Ilollis Selectmen also show that 
the town paid each of them a bountv of £60, or $200. As the 
<:)ld Continental paper money had now l)ecome worthless these 
liounties were doubtless paid in specie or its equivalent, amounting 
in all to £720, or $2,400. Instead of entailing this amount as a 
debt upon the town to be paid by posterity, as has been too often 
done in more modern times in like cases, our ancestors at their 
annual town meeting assessed a war tax of £800 or $2,666.67, to 
meet it, to be collected and pa\d the same year. The names of 
these twelve itien were 

lohn Bonner, Benjiiniin W. Grait , SUphcn Parker, 

Elijah Clark, Isaac Ilobart, Ezekiel Proctor. 

Edward Deanc, Jacob Ilobart. James Rolfe, 

John Godfrey. John McHendley. Asahel Twiss. 

At a special town meeting held on the 14th of May of this year a 
resolution was adopted, that for the purpose of engaging soldiers in 
answer to future calls, the town should be divided into Classes, and 
the Selectmen and ]Mr. Ephraim Burge were chosen as a committee 
to " class the town." It appears that in pursuance of this resolu- 
tion the town was di\ ided into eight " classes." 

THE town's (^lO'rA OF BEEF FX)K 17S1. 

Sprcial Joiv// Mccf/z/g., June 25, 17S1. At this meeting the 
town ''Voted that as the town is now divided into eight classes, 
the quantity of beef we have to get be divided to each class according 



lySl.] NEW CALL FOR SOLDIERS. rc)^ 

to valuation, (except as to non-residents) and that the SLieciiaea 
set down each man's portion of beef to his name and that if any 
class or person refuse to pay their or his proportion of beef the 
same shall be committed to the Constable to collect, and tl'iat the 
Selectmen shall set such sum in specie to such delinquent as will be 
sufficient to pay for his proportion of beef." 

NEW CALL FOR SOLDIEF >. 

In the month of July of this year a requisition was niaJe by the 
State upon the town for twelve men to senx in the army for three 
months. In consequence of this call a town meeting was held on 
the 19th of July, at which it was "voted that the eight classes into 
which the town was divided should be so coupled that each two 
classes should procure three good effective men." The Great 
Return shows that nine of these three months' men were enlisted 
and paid by the town. No record or other evidence is foimd in 
respect to the other three. A bount}^ of £15, or $50 each, was 
paid to the nine men engaged. They enlisted in the company of 
Capt. John Mills, in a small, incomplete regiment commanded by 
Col. Daniel Reynolds of Londonderry. It is not known where this 
regiment was employed, or that in fact it ever left the State. The 
war at this time was substantially at an end, and the regiment soon 
disbanded, and most probably for these reasons, the three remaining 
Hollls men were not engaged. The names of the nine men in 
Capt. Mills' company were, 

Capt. William Brooks, Abner Keyes, B. Woods Parker, 

Asa Chamberlain, Daniel Merrill, Thomas Powell, 

Robert Connick, Jacob Mooar, Samuel Read. 

Including the nine three months' men and the twenty 

" Continentals," Hollis had this year in the service, in all, but 

twenty-nine soldiers, a number much less than that of any 
preceding year. 

RUM FOR THE ARMY. 

On the ist of October of this year a town meeting was called to 
see what method should be taken to procure ///e J^z/m required of 
the town for the army, and Robert McGaw was chosen agent of 
•^he town to provide it. The town's quota in gallons is not stated 
in the record but at a subsequent town meeting, in December of 
this year a tax of £100, or $333 was voted to pay for it, and the 
necessary charges of the town. 
(13) 



194 WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. [1782. 



CHAPTER XVIIl. 

17S2-S3. — i^lE LAST YEAR OF THE WAR. NEW PLAN OF GOV- 

ERNMEN). THE NEW HAMPSHIRE RANGERS IN 17S2. LAST 

SOLDIER O' ITIE IIOLLIS QUOTA. NUMBER AND NAMES OF 

HOLLIS SOLDIERS. SENTIMENTS IN RESPECT TO THE RETURN 

OF THE TORIES. LAST WAR TAX. HOLLIS RECORDS AND- 

DOCUMENTS. NAMES OF THE COMMITTEES OF SAFETY AND 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. SOLDIERS LOST IN THE WAR. 

NEW PLAN OF GOVERNMENT. 

In the month of June, 17S1, a vState Convention was held at Con- 
cord to agree upon and propose a new *•' Plan" or system of State 
Government. HolHs had no delegate in this convention, the town, 
in the month of May previous, having voted not to elect. In the 
month of September next afterwards the convention reported its 
''plan" to be submitted to the people of the State at their town 
meetings. Early in January, 17S2, a town meeting was called in 
Hollis to consider this plan, at which a committee of sixteen was 
chosen to examine it and make report of their sentiments in respec 
to it at an adjoiu'ned meeting on the i6th of January. Upon the 
coming in of the report of this comfnittee, the town voted as follows ; 
" rst, to accept the Bill -of Rights with an amendment reported by 
the Committee." ■' 2d, To have a Governor under certain restric- 
tions, but that the power of the Governor set forth in the " Plan 
is too large." •' 3d, That the present mode of representation be 
adopted and that each town pay its own representative." 

This first plan reported by the convention was not accepted by 
a majority of the people of the vState and the convention again met 
and made a second report in September, 1782. A town meeting 
was called on the i6th of December of this year to consider and 
act upon this new report. The extracts from the record of the 
meeting presented l)elow exhibit the sentiments and doings of this 



1782.] LAST SOLDIER OF THE MOLLIS tyjOTA. 1 95 

meeting. '' Voted to reject said Plan of Government as it stands, 
yeas, lo, nays, 36." " It then being submitted to the town what 
amendment they would have instead of a Supreme Head to be styled 
a ' Governor,' Voted that we would choose to be governed similar 
to what we now are by a council and assembly — the President of 
the Coimcil to be the Supreme Head of the State and in the recess, 
the General Court to have a Committee of Safety to assist the 
President." 

It is said that this new plan was generally approved in the State 
but was not fully completed at the time news of peace arrived. The 
old form of government, having expired with the war, it was re- 
vived by the votes of the people and kept in force for one year 
longer. In the year following the new form was finished, and the 
name of " Governor " being changed to " President" it was printed 
a third time, and declared to be the civil Constitution of the State, 
and continued in force till the adoption of the present Constitution 
in September 1792. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE RANGERS IN 17S2. 

Although the danger was not supposed to be great, yet as a mat- 
ter of precaution, companies of New Hampshire Rangers were kept 
in service on the northern frontier, known as the '" Coos Coun- 
try," in the summer and fall of 17S2, to protect the inhabitants from 
threatened raids of the Indians in Canada. On the 4th of Julv 
of this year, Andrew Henderson of Hollis enlisted in a company of 
these Rangers, (in v\diich he was a Sergeant) commanded l)v Capt. 
Jonathan Smith of Surry. Also on the 6th of July Jonas 
Willoughby of Hollis volunteered in a company employed in the 
same service commanded by Capt. Ebenezer Webster of Salisbui-y, 
the father of Plon. Daniel Webster. These companies were dis- 
charged about the middle of November, having been in the service 
about four and one-half months. 

THE LAST SOLDIER OF" THE HOLLIS CONTINENTAL QUOTA. 

Previously to the beginningof 1782, active hostilities between the 
contending armies had virtually ended, yet the Continental Con- 
gress regarded it prudent that the ranks of the regular army should 
be kept filled. About the middle of July of this year, upon investiga- 
tion being made by a committee of the town, one man was found 
to be wanting in the Hollis quota. At a town meeting then held 



196 NUMBER AND NAMES OF THE HOLLIS SOLDIERS. [lyS-- 

the tcnvn "' voted unanimoiislv that one man more be raised by the 
town to serve in the Continental army and that the committee for 
that pnrpose procure him at discretion, immediately." It appears 
from the regimental returns of Col. Nichols, that on the 15th ot 
July 17S2, Jabcz Youngman had enlisted as a soldier for Hollis for 
three years, thus making the Continental quota of the town com- 
plete. Youngman was the last soldier who volunteered for Hollis, 
and the only one called for this }ear for the regular army. His name 
is found on the roll of the ist New Hampshire Continental regi- 
ment, in December, 17^2, and he is supposed to have been in the 
ser\ice till the regiment was discharged, the next year, at the con- 
clusion of peace. The town paid him a bounty of £60 or $200, 
the same as paid to the Continental soldiers enlisted for three years, 
in 17S1 . 

M'.'MBER AND N'AMES OF THE IIOLLIS SOLDIERS. 

It will be found on examination of the various lists and rolls, 
still existing, of the Hollis soldiers in the Revolution, that most of 
them enlisted more than once, and many of them on three or more 
different occasions ; but counting each name but once, it will appear 
that Hollis, at different times during the war, as nearly as can now 
be ascertained, furnished, with but few exceptions, from its own 
citizens, more than three hundred soldiers who for a longer or short- 
er time were in the military service — a number but little less than 
one-fourth of its whole population. 

Of these soldiers, there was one each of the names of Abbot, 
Adams, iVmbrose, Atwell, Auld, Blanchard, Bonner, Boyd, Bruce, 
Burge, Campbell, Clark, Cowen, Danforth, Davis, Deane, Dickey, 
Elliot, Farmer, Farnsworth, Flagg, Foster, Gilson, Godfrey, Goss, 
Hazeltine, Henderson, Hill, Honey, Hopkins, Hosley, Kemp, 
Kendrick, Keyes, Kinney, Lesley, Lund, McConnor, McHendley, 
:Messer, Minot, Patten, Philbrick, Platts, Poor, Powell, Pratt, 
Richardson, Rideout, Rogers, Runnells, Russ, Seaver, Shed, 
Stevens, Tenney, Thurston, Townsend, Twiss, Wallingford, Wood 
and Wyman. 

Two each of the names of Ames, Brooks, Carter, Conant, 
Connick, Fisk, Grace, Jaquith, Johnson, Leeman, McDaniels, 
Mcintosh, Mooar, Noyes, Pool, Rolfe, vSanderson, Smith, Spalding, 
Stearns, Wilkins, Willoughby and Woods. 

Of the names of Bowers, Chamberlain, Dow, Eastman, 



1782.] SENTIMENTS IN RESPECT TO THE TORIES. I97 

Goodhue, How, Merrill, Parker, Patch, Phelps, Read and Stiles, 
three each. 

Four each of the names of Brown, Conroy, Hale, Lawrence, 
Lovejoy, Pierce, Proctor, .Shattuck and Worcester. Of the names 
of Ball, Colburn, Emerson, Nevins, Taylor, Wheat, Wheeler, 
Wright and Yovmgman, five each. Six of the name of Powers. 
Of the names of Bailey, Boynton, Cumings, Farley and French, 
seven each. Eight of the name of Hobart, nine of Jewett, ten of 
that of Hardy, and. sixteen of the name of Blood. 

Representative to the General Court. At a special town meet- 
ing held on the 28th of October of this year Richard Cutts Shannon 
was elected to represent the town in the General Court to be holden 
at Portsmouth in December 1782. 

jySj. Annual Town Meeting. Increase of the State Tax. 
At the annual A'larch meeting of this year the town " Voted to 
enlarge the State tax £200 to defray the necessary charges of the 
war, and chose Dea. Daniel Emerson, Noah Worcester, Esq., 
Capt. Daniel Kendrick and Ephraim Burge a committee to assist 
the Selectmen in settling with the Continental soldiers." 

THE SENTIMENTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HOLLIS IN RESPECT TO 
THE TORIES. 

As stated in the early part of this narrative, four of the citizens 
of Hollis were known as loyalists or tories, one of whom for a time 
was imprisoned for disloyalty. The remaining three left the coun- 
try early in the war, and their names were included in the act of 
confiscation, passed in 1778, by the New Hampshire General 
Court, and tlie}', witli many others, were forbidden to return to the 
country under the penalty of death. 

After the end of the war, the British Commissioners, in their 
negotiations for peace, were persistent in their eftbrts to provide for 
the return of the banished adherents of the crown, and the restora- 
tion of their confiscated estates ; and this subject was widely and 
warmly discussed by the American press of the time, and in the 
primary assemblies of the peo23le. A special town meeting in 
Hollis was called to consider this subject in the spring of 1783, 
•'and to see if the Town Would give their Representative any 
Instructions in respect to the Absentees from this State and their 
returning." As will appear from the follow^ing extract, which we 
copy from the record of that meeting, the sentiments of the people 



198 SEXTIINIENTS IN Rp:SPECT TO THE TORIES. [1783- 

of the town upon this question found expression in language more 
vigorous and emphatic than forgetful or forgiving, as follows : 

'"* The minds of the people being tried in respect to the Returning 
of those Miserable Wretches imder the name of Tories, Absentees 
or Conspirators," 

" Voted unanimously that they shall not be allowed to return or 
regain their forfeited Possessions." 

'• Voted that a Committee be chosen to give the Representative 
of this Town j^articulhr Instructions which may convey to him the 
unanimous sentiments of the people in respect to the Absentees 
above mentioned." 

" Voted that Col. John Hale, Noah Worcester. Esq., Master 
Cumings, Dea. Bo^^nton, Captains Dow, Goss and Kendrick lie a 
Committee to give the Instructions above mentioned." 

Representative to tJie Genera/ Court. On the 26th of Decem- 
ber of this year Dea. Daniel Emerson was chosen Representative to 
the General Court to be held at Concord in June. 

Ainjual To'v?/ Alceting ISIareh 7, 1184. At the annual town meet- 
ing of this year Dea. Daniel Emerson was again chosen Representa- 
tive to the General Court to meet at Concord in June. At the same 
meeting the town "Voted to raise £210 to dcfrav the charges of 
foiu" Continental soldiers, viz., Elijah Clark. John Godfrey, Jacob 
Hobart and Jalx'z Youngman, and also that the selectmen should 
assist the Continental soldiers in ]:)referring a petition to the General 
Court for a redress of Grievances in respect to their ^vages." 

THE EAST TOWN MEETING IN RESPECT lO THE CONTINENTAL 
SOEDIERS, MAY 2, 17S5. 

"Voted that Noah W^orcestcr and Daniel Emerson. Esqrs., and 
Mr. William Cumings be a Ctimmittec to look into matters 
relating to the Continental soldiers and see how matters stand in 
relation to making them or any of them a consideration for their 
services, and report at a future meeting." 

At a special town meeting held afterwards on the 15th of Septem- 
ber this committee reported as follows: "That the Town in 
Justice ought to givey;vr_^rrt'//V to Thomas Pratt, David Sanderson, 
Joel Proctor, John Youngman and Thomas Wheat £18 to each of 
them, for their voluntary service in the Continental Army." This 
report was accepted by the town and a tax for the amount assessed 
at the same meeting. Such was the honorable and characteristic 
close of the Ilollis war meetings. 



'7^5-] '^"^'^ IIOLLIS RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS. 1 99 

THE MOLLIS RECORDS AND REVOLUTIONARY DOCUMENTS. 

Ill the foregoing narrative it has been my aim to gather as far us 
practicable, from authentic sources, and to present in as little space 
as was consistent with perspicuity and historical accuracy, the 
annual doings of the people of Ilollis in the seven years' war of the 
Revolution, and also somewhat of the sentiments and spirit which 
animated their efforts in the struggle for National Independence. 
Notwithstanding all the care I have used in my researches, it may 
be that some errors have escaped me. 

In vievv' of the lapse of one hundred years since our Revolution, 
and the long time since the last of the actors in its story have 
passed away, it would be passing strange if some mistakes have not 
unwittingly found their way into this narrative, which, if detected, 
I hope may be pardoned and corrected. But in the hope of avoid- 
ing important errors, I have in the main adhered closely to the 
Revolutionary documents and records of the State and town. 

These records and documents of Hollis which I have so freely 
used and copied, and which so fully tell of the doings and purposes 
of the men who made them, I cannot but look upon as a precious 
and sacred legacy to their posterity, and to the present and future 
inhabitants of the town. We find in them all no sentiment of our 
ancestors which we would forget, no recorded act which does not 
do honor to their memories. The story as here told to some who 
may read it may seem needlessly prolix, and in some of its details 
tedious, still I am conscious that very many matters have been 
omitted, highly creditable to the actors in them, which interested 
me to know, and which if told would doubtless interest others as 
well. Yet I trust that in this imperfect naiTative enough has been 
said, to satisfy all who have curiosity in such inquiries, that upon all 
occasions, from the beginning of the war to its end, our ancestors of 
Hollis did what at the time they believed to be their duty to their 
country, their own generation, and to their posterity, intelligently, 
promptl}-, and joati'iotically, with unfaltering courage, and the hope- 
ful assurance of final success. 

In 17741 when that dark and portentous war cloud \vas still in 
the horizon, undismayed by its threatenings. they proclaimed in the 
face of it and inscribed upon their public records, "■' lie xvill en- 
deavor at all times to mahttain onr liberties and privileges^ both 
civil and sacred, at the risk of 07/r lives and fortunes." When 
a few months later that cloud first burst at Lexington, the Hollis 
minute men with full ranks hastened to the scene of conflict. 



20O MOLLIS RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS. [^7^5- 

On the night of the i6th of June the Hollis company, under the 
eye of the galhint Prescott, without sleep or food, were busy with 
their spades and pickaxes upon the earthworks at Bunker Hill. 
They were a part of that force, worn and weary with the work of 
the night, of whom it was curtly said by their brave Colonel, on the 
morning of the battle, in answer to a proposal to relieve them, -md 
call fresh troops to the defence of the works they had built — 
" T/ic 7Hcn who Iniilt tJiis fort xvill best defend it.'" 

In the fall after that battle, when the ranks of the army av 
Cambridge were thinned an^d weakened by the base desertion of the 
Connecticut regiments, another company, mainly of Hollis volun- 
teers, with the New Hampshire reinforcements, promptly marched 
to the seat of war to supply the places of the mutineers. 

In 1776 we find Hollis soldiers with the army in Canada, at 
Ticonderoga, in the garrisons at Portsmouth, at White Plains, and 
sharing in the l;)loody campaigns in New Jersey. 

The next year, when Gen. Burgoyne was on his march from 
Canada to Ticonderoga, a company of fifty or more Hollis minute 
men is seen hastening to its defence. The same summer, after the 
fall of that fortress, wx' find a company, chiefly of Hollis soldiers, 
under the gallant Stark at the decisive battle and brilliant victory 
at Bennington. In the hard winter of 1777-S, when their Conti- 
nental soldiers were in the ill-suj^plied camp at Valley Forge, some 
of them barefoot and in rags, the nimble fingers of their mothers 
and sisters at home are seen busy for their relief. 

In the summer of 177^' "when Rhode Island was threatened with 
invasion, a company of forty-three mounted Hollis soldiers marched 
to aid in the defence. When in 17S0 West Point was endangered 
by the base treason of Gen. Arnold, we have seen how readily our 
ancestors responded to the call for volunteers. And in 17S2, after 
the last battle of the war had been fouglit, when the Continental 
Congress thouglit it prudent to keep the ranks of the regular army 
filled, this last call was at once cheerfully and promptly met. 

If we follow the campaigns of the regular army we shall find the 
Hollis Continental cjuota in the New Hampshire regiments with 
VV^ashington at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Monmouth and 
Germantown ; with Gen. Gates at Stillwater and Saratoga ; with 
Gen. wSullivan in the war against the Six Nations, and again with 
Washington at the final battles and surrender at Yorktown. The 
New Hampshire Continental regiments known as the " Hampshire 
Boys" from the beginning to end of the war, were noted for their 



1 785-] 



IIOLUS COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. 



20I 



fidelity to duty, their good conduct and intrepidity, and their 
commanders, the gallant Cilley, Poor and Scammell, could at all 
times rightfully say with the Trojan Hector, in face of the dangers 
of battle, 

" Where heroes war the foremost phice we claim, 
The first in danger as the first in fame." 



HOLLIS COMMITTEE OF SAFETY IN 



1776. 



Capt. Reuben Dow, 
Capt. Noah Worcester, 
Ensign Stephen Ames, 

1777- 
Noah Worcester, 
Stephen Ames, 
Daniel Kcndrick, 
Oliver Lawrence, 
Jacob Jewett, 



Capt. Daniel Kendrick, 
Jacob Jewett, 

177S. 
Noah Worcester, 
Dea. Enoch Noyes. 
Oliver Lawrence, 
Nehemiah Woods, 
Edward Taylor, 



Oliver Lawrence, 
Samuel Chamberlain. 



1779. 
Noah Worcester, 
Stephen Ames, 
Oliver Lawrence, 
Edward Taylor, 
Jacob Jewett. 



HOLLIS COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 



Samuel Ilobart, Colonel of 3nd N. II. regiment of minute men, and paymaster of N. H. troops: 
in 1775. 

John Hale, I'ttei Emerson. 

Jonathan Pool. 



Regimental Surgeons, 
Assistant Surgeon, 



Captains. 
Reuben Dow, 
Daniel Emerson, Jun., 
John Goss, 
Noah Worcester. 



First Lieutenants. 
Caleb Farley, 
Ebenezer Jewett, 
Robert Seaver, 
David Wallinarford. 



Second Lieutenants . 
William Brooks, 
John Cumings, 
Samuel Leeman, Jun. 



HOLLIS SOLDIERS KILLED OR DIED IN THE ARMY OF DISEASE OR 



James Fisk, 
Jeremiah Sliattuck, 
Nathan Blood, 
Jacob Boynton, 
Thomas Colburn, 
Isaac Hobart, 
Phineas Nevins, 
Peter Poor, 
Thomas Wheat, 
Ebenezer Youngman. 
Caleb Eastman, 
Josiah Blood, 
Minot Farmer, 
William Nevins, 
Ezra Proctor, 
Isaac Shattuck, 
Samuel Leeman, Jun.. 
Ebenzer Cumings, 
Lebbeus Wheeler, 
John Conroy, 
Daniel Blood, 
Francis G. Powers, 



WOUNDS. 

died at Cambridge, 

killed at Bunker Hill, 



died 



May 29, 1775. 
May 29, 1775. 
June 17, 1775. 



killed 



Sept. 


1776 


May 


" 


May 15 


" 


Oct. 


1777- 




.77s. 


July 10 


•' 


Sept. 


" 


Nov. 28 


" 




17S0 



202 nOI.LIS SOLDIERS KIM-El) OR DIED, [^ySS- 

The number of names in the list of deaths, is twenty-two. The 
Rev. Grant Powers, in his Centennial Address, states the loss of 
Hollis in the war, in killed or by disease, at thirty. He probably 
included in that number eight 2:)ersons who in i779 tlied in Hollis 
of the small pox, which he tells us was supposed to have been 
communicated by the enemy. The eight who died of that disease, 
added to the twenty-two, woidd make the Ilollis loss of thirty as Mr. 
Powers states it. 

The Hollis soldiers who received pensions from tlie Government, 
on account of 2:)ermanent disabilities sufl'ered in the service, either 
from wounds or disease, were Capt. Reuben Dow, Ensign William 
Wood, Thomas Pratt, (all wounded at Bunker Hill) Samuel Boyd 
and .Stcplicn Richardson. 



1783.] 



NAMES OF IIOI.I.IS SOLDIERS. 



203 



CHAPTER XIX. 

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF IIOLLIS SOLDIERS, SHOWING IN WHAT 
YEARS THEY ENLISTED WHEN AND HOW LONG THEY WERE IN 
THE SERVICE. 



(''^775 L." deiiotcs enlisted^ April ig^ ^775^fo^' I^cxiiigtoii a?id 
Cambridge ; " Cam." Cambridge ; "■' B. //.," at the Battle of 
Bunker Hill; " C. ^.," Continental Artfiy ; '■^ Port.,'" in 
Garrison at Portsmouth. N. H. ; " Wh. P.," at White Plains ; 
'• 77.," Tieonderoga ; '"'' 1777 Al. 7\" Ticonderoga Alarm., 
June., 1777; '•^ Ben" in the co?npany of Capt. Goss., at Ben- 
nington., jfuly lyy-/ : "• W. Pt." West Point; "7?. /.," Rhode 
Island ; *•' G. P." //ames in the Returii of Capt. Goss, p. ^6/.) 



Abbot, Bonjaniin, '75, L., '78, R. I., 22 d. 
-Adams, William, '75, Cam., B. H., S m. 
Ambrose, Samuel, '75, Cam., 3 mon. . 
Ames, David, '75, Cam., B. IL, 8 m., '76. C. 

A. I y, '77 C. A., 3 y. 
Ames, Jonathan, '75, L., '77 Al. T. 
Atwell, John, '7S, L., '76, Port., 3 m., '78, R. 

I., 22 d. 
Auld, John, '78, C. A., 2 y. 
Bailey, Andrew, 75, 'Cam., B. IL.Sm., '76, 

Port. 3 m., '77, C. A., 8 m. '78, R. I., 23 d. 
Bailey, Daniel, '75, Cam. 3 m., '77, Al. T., '78, 

R. I., 22 d., '79, R. I., 5 m. 
Bailey, Daniel, Jun., '76, Wh. P. 5 m. 
Bailey, Job, '75, Cam. B. H., 8 m. 
Bailey, Joseph, '75, L. 

Bailey, Joel., '75, Cam., 8 ni.,'So, W. Pt., 3 m. 
Ball, Ebenezer, '75, Cam., B. IL, 8 ra., '76, 

Port, and N. Y., 12 m. 
Ball, Eleazer, '75, Cam. 3 m., '77, Al. T. 
Ball, John, '76, Ti., 6 m., '77 C. A., 8 m. 
Ball, Nathaniel, Jun., '75, I-. 
Ball, William, '77, Al. T. 
Blanchard, Joshua, "75, Cam. 3 m. 
Blood, Abel, '80, C. A., 6 m. 
Blood, Daniel, '75, Cam. 3 m., '77, C. A., 3 y. 
, Blood, Daniel, 2 d, '75, L., '76, Ti., 6 m. 



Pt. 



8 m. 



Blcxxl, Elnathan, '76, Ti., G. R. 
Blood, Ephraim, '75, Cam. B. IL,8 mo. 
Blood, Francis, '75, Cam. B. IL, 8 m. 
Blood, Josiah, '76, Ti., 6 m. 
Blood, Josiah, Jun., '77, Al. T., 'So W. 

3 m. 
Blood, I-emuel, 'So, C. A., 6 m. 
Blood, Nathan, '75, I^., '75, Cam. B. IL 
Blood, Nathaniel, '78, R. I., 22;!., 'So, C. A. 

6 m. 
Blood, Nathaniel, Jun., '78, R. L, 22 d. 
Blood, Jonas, '75, I.. 
Blood, Reuben, '77, Al. 'J"., '7S, C. A., 2 y., 

'So, C. A., 6 m. 
Blood, Simeon, '77, Ben., '78, C. A., 2 y., '80, 

N. Frontier, 6 m. 
Blood, Timothy, '76, Wh. P., 5 mo., '78, R. L 

22 d. 
Bonner, John, 'Si, C. A., 3 y. 
Bowers, Henry, '77, Ben. 
Bowers, Jerathmael, '79, C. A., i y. 
Bowers, Oliver, '77, Al. T. 
Boyd, Samuel, '78, C. A., 2 y., '80, C. A. 3 y. 
Boynton, Benjamin, '75, L., '76, Wh. P., 5 m. 
Boynton, Elias, '75, Cam. B. H., 8 ni., '76, C. 

A., I y., '7S, R. I., 22 d. 
Boynton, Isaac, '77, C. A. 3 y. 



204 



NAMES OF IIOI.LIS SOLDIERS. 



[1782. 



Boynton, Jacob, '75. Cam. B. H., 8 m. 
Boynton, Joel, '75, Cam. 3 m., '76, Wh. P., 5 m 
Boynton, John, 3 d., '77, C. A., S m. 
Boynton, Joshua, '75, Cum. Ji. II., 8 m., '77, 

Al. T. 
Brooks, John, '77, C. A., 8 m. 
Brooks, Lt. William, '78, R. I., 22 d., '81, 3 m. 
Brown, Abel, '75, Cam. B. H., 8 m. 
Brown, William, '76, Ti., G. R. 
Brown, Eliphalet, '75, Cam. 3 m., '77, Al. Ti., 

'77, Ben. 
Brown, Joseph, '76, N. V., 2 m. 
Bruce, Josiah, '75, Cam. 8 m. 
Burge, Ephraim, '77, Al. T. 
Campbell, John, '75, Cam. B. II., 8 m., '77, 

Ben. 
Carter, Edward, '76, Wli. P. 5 m., '77, C. A. 

3y- 

Carter, Thomas, '78, R. I., 22 d. 

Chamberlain, Asa, '81, 3 m. 

Chamberlain, Samuel, '76, N. Y., 2 m. 

Chamberlain, Wilder, '75, Cam. B. H., 8 m. 

Clark, Elijah, 'Si, C. A., 3 y. 

Colburn, Benj., '77, Al. T., '78, R. I., 22 d. 

Colburn, James, '75, Cam., 3 m., '77, C. A. 

8 m. 
Colburn, N'athan, '75, L., '75, Cam. 8 m., '76, 

Wh. P., 5 m. 
Colburn, Robt., '75, Cam. 3 m. 
Colburn, Thomas, '75, L., '75, Cam. B. JI., 

S m. 
Conant, Abel, '75, Cam. B. II., S m., '76, C. 

A., I y., '78. R. I., 22 d. 
Conant Josiah, '75, Cam. 3 m., '7S, R. I., 22 d. 
Connick, Robt., '81, 3 m. 
Connick William, '76, Wh. P., 5 m., '77, C. 

A., 3 y., 'So, C. A., 6 m. , 

Cowen, William, '78, C. A., 2 y. 
Cumings, Benj., '75, L., '75, Cam. P>. II. S ni., 

'76, C. A., I y. 
Conroy,John, '75, Cam. 3 m., 'So, W. Pt., 3m. 
Conroy, John, Jun., '78, C. A. 2 y. 
Conroy, Samuel, '75, L., '75, Cam. B. H., 8 ni. 
Conroy, Stephen, '76, C. A., 1 y., '78, C. A., 2 

y., '80, C. A., 6 m. 
Cumings, Ebenezer, '77, C. A., 3 y. 
Cumings, En. John, '75, L., '75, Cam., B. 11. 

8 m. 
Cumings, Larnard,'76, Port, and N. V., 12 m. 
Cumings, Peter, '75, Cam. B. II., S m. 
Cumings, Philip, '75, Cam. B. II., S m. 
Cumings, Wm., '76, N. Y., 2 m., '77, Al. T. 
Uanforth, Jacob, '76, C. A., i y., '77, C. A., 3 

y., 'So, C. A., 6 m. 
Davis, Joshua, '76, Ti. 6 m. ' 
Dcane, Edward, 'Si, C. A. 3 y. 
Dickey, James, '75, L., '77, Al. T. 
Dow, Capt. Reuben, '75, \,., '75, Cam. IJ. I]., 

8 mo., '78, R. I., 22 d. 



Dow, Evan, '75, Cam. B. II., 8 m,. '78, R. 1.. 

■22 d. 

Dow, Stephen, '77, Al. T., '80, W. Pt., 3 m. 
Eastman, Amos, '75, L., '76, N. Y., 2 m. 
Eastman, Caleb, '75, Cam. B. H., 8 m. 
Eastman, Jonathan, '75, L. 
Elliot, William, '75, Cam. B. II., 8 m., '76, C. 

A., : y. 
Emerson, Capt. Daniel, '76, Ti. 6 m., '77, 

Al. T., '78, R. I., 22 d., '79, R. I., s m. 
Emerson, Dr. Peter, '79, R. I., 5 m., Reg. 

Surg. 
Emerson, Ralph, '76, Ti., 6 m., '77, C. A., 3 y. 
Emerson, Samuel, '79, R. I., 5 m. 
Emerson, Thomas, '76, Ti., 6 m. 
Farley, Benj., '75, L., '75, Cam. 3 m. 
Farley, Benj., Jun., '76, Ti., 6 m. 
Farley, Lt. Caleb, '76, Port, and N. Y., 12 in., 

'78 R. I., 22 d. 
Farley, Christopher, '76, Port, and N. Y., 

12 m. 
^ Farley, Ebenezer, '75, L., '76, N. Y., 2 m. 
Farley, Joseph, '75, Cam., 3 m. 
P'ailey, Stephen, '75, Cam., 3 m. 
Farmer, Minot, '75, L., '75, Cam., B. II. S m. 

'76, C. A., I y. 
Farnswiirth, David, '75, L., '75, Cam. B. H., 

8 m. 
Fisk, James, '75, L., '75, Cam. 8 m. 
Fisk, Josiah, '75, Cam. B. II., 8 m. 
Flagg, Jonas, '78, R. I., 22 d., 'So, W.Pt.,3 ni. 
Foster, Simeon, '79, C. A., 1 y. 
French, David, '76, Port, and N. Y., 12 m. 
French, Isaac, '75, Cam. 3 m., '76, Wh. P. 3 m. 
French, Jonathan, '77, Ben., '78, R. I., 22 d. 
French, Joseph, '75, Cam., S m. 
' French, Nehemiah, '75, Cam., S m., '77, Ai. T. 
French, Timothy, '76, N. Y., 2 m. 
French, William, '75, L. 
Gilson, Ebenezer, '75, L., '75, Cam., 3 m. 
Godfiey, John, '77, C. A., 3 y., 'Si, C. A. 3 y. 
""Goodhue, Samuel, '77, Port. 1 m. 
Goodhue, John, '79, Port. 6 m. 
Goodhue, Stei^hen, '76, Wh. P., 5 m. '78 R. i., 

22 d. 
Goss, Capt. John, '75 L., '75. Cam., 15. II., 8 m., 

'77, Ben. 
Grace, Benjamin W., 'Si, C. A., 3y. 
Grace, Manuel, '75, L. 

Hale, Dr. John, Reg. Surgeon from '76 to 'So> 
Hale, John, Jun., "76, N. Y ., 2 m., '78, R. I., 

22 d. 
Hale, David, '7S, R. I., 22 d. 
Hale, William, '77, C. A., 3 y. 
Hardy, Aaron, '75, L. 
Hardy, Jesse, '80, \V. Pt., 3 m. 
Hardy, Lemuel, '77, Al. T., '80, W. Pt., 3 ni. 
Hardy, Joseph, '79, Port., 6 m. 
Hardy, Nehemiah, 75. Cam. 3 m. 



1782.1 



NAMES OF MOLLIS SOLDIERS. 



ICJ 



Hardy, Noah, '77, Al. T., '7S, R. I., 22 d. Lesley, Jonas, '76, Wh. P., 5 m. 

Hardy, Phineas, '76, Port. 3 m. Lovejoy, Abel, 'So, C. A. 6 m. 

Hardy, Phineas, Jun., '75, Cam., B. 11. , S m., Lovejoy, Asa, '75, Cam., 3 m., '76, Wli., P. J 

'76, Port., 3 m. m., '77, C. A., 3 y. 

Hardy, Silas, '79, Port., 6 m. Lovejoy, Daniel, '76, Ti., G. R. 

Hardy, Thomas, '75, Cam., B. H., 8 m., '76, Lovejoy, Jonathan, Jun., '75, Cam., 3 m. 

C. A., I y. Lund, Ephraim, '75, Cam., 3 m. 

Henderson, Andrew, 'S3, N. Frontier, 6 m. McConnor, James, '75, Cam., B. IL, S m. 

Hill, Samuel, '75, Cam., B. II. , S m. '76, Ti., 6, McDaniels, James, '77, Ben. 



m. '77, C. A., 3 y. 
Hobart, Isaac, '75, Cam. B. H., 8 m. 
Hobart, Isaac, 3d., 'Si, C. A., 3 y. 
Hobart, Jacob, 'Si, C. A., 3 y. 
Hobart, John, '77, Al. T., '79, R. I., 6 m. 
Hobart, Jonathan, '75, Cam., 3 m., '76, N. Y., 

2 m. 
Hobart, Joshua, 75, Cam., 3 m., '77, Ben., '78, 

R. I., 23 d. 
Hobart, Col. Samuel, '75, Paymaster. 
Hobart, Solomon, '77, AL T., '7S, R. I., 22 d. 



McDaniels, Randall, '75, L. 

McHendley, John, '81, C. A., 3y. 

Melntosh, Archibald, '77, Ben. 

Mcintosh, Jiimes, '77, Cam., B. H., S m. 

Merrill, Daniel, '76, Ti., G. R. 

Merrill, Daniel, Jan., '78, R. I., 22 d. 'So, W. 

Pt., 3 m., '81, 3 in. 
Merrill, Samuel, '77, Al. T., '77, Ben., '78 

33 d. 

Messer, Benjamin, '77, Ben. 
Minot, Joseph, '75, L. 
Mooar, Daniel, '77 Ben. 



R. I. 



Honey, Parmeter, '75, Cam., 3 m. 

Hopkins, Richard, '76, Port., and N. Y., 12 m.l^looar, Jacob, '77, Ben., '81, 3 m 

Hosley, Samuel, '75, Cam., B. H., 8 m. Nevins, Benjamin, '75, L., '77, Ben. 

How, Ephraim, '75, Cam. B.H., 8 m., '77 Ben. Nevins, John, '77, Ben. 

How, John', '76, Ti., '6^^!., '78, R. I 



m., '77 ; 
., 22 a. 



How, Joseph, '75, Cam., 3 m. 
Jaquith, Ebenezer, '75, Cam., 3 m. 
Jaquith, Thomas, '75, Cam., 3 ni. 
Jewett, Lieut. Ebenezer, '77, Al. T. 

3 m. 
Jewett, Jacob, '75, Cam., 3 in. 



Nevins, Joseph, '75, L., '77, Al. T. 
Nevins, Phineas, '75, Cam., B. H., 8 m. 
Nevins, William, '75, L., '75, Cam., B. H., 8 m. 
'76, C. A., I y. 
'So, W. Pt., Noyes, Elijah, '75, Cam., 3 m., '76, Ti., 6m., '77 
ALT., '78, R.L, 22d. 
Noyes, Enoch, Jun., '76, Ti., 6 in. 



Jewett, Jacob, 3d, '78, R. L, 32 d., 'So, W. Pt., Parker, Benjamin W., '81, 3 m. 



3 m. 
Jewett, James, '76, Ti., G. R. 
Jewett, Jonathan, '78, R. I., 6 m. 
Jewett, Dea. Nathaniel, '76, Ti., G. R. 
Jewett, Noah, '76, Wh. P., 5 m. 
Jewett, Samuel, '75, Cam., B. H., 8 m. 
Jewett, Stephen, Jun., '75, Cam., 3 m., '76, 

Wh. P., 5 m. 
Johnson, Edward, '75, L. 
Johnson, Samuel, '76, N. Y., 3 m. 
Kemp, Thomas, '75, Cam., B. H., 8 m., '76, 

Wh. P., 5 m., '77 Ben. 
Kendrick, Capt. Daniel, '78, R. I., 32 d. 
Keyes, Abner, '75, Cam., 8 m., '76, Port, and 

N. Y., 12 111. 'Si, 3 m. 
Kinney, Israel, '75, Cam., B. H., 8 m., '76, C. 

A., ly. 
Lawrence, Asa, '78, R. I., 22 d. 
Lawrence, Nicholas, 'So, W. Pt., 3 m. 
Lawrence, Oliver, '75, Cam., 3 m., '78, R. I., 

6 in. 
Lawrence, Silas, '80, W. Pt., 3 m. 
Leenian, Nathaniel, '77, Al. T., 'So, W. Pt., 

3 in. 
Leeman, Ensign Samuel, '75, Cam., B. H., 8 Poor, Peter, '75, Cam., B. IL, 8 m 

m., '76, C. A., I y., '77, C. A., 3 y. Powell, Thomas, 'Si, 3 m. 



Parker, Jonathan, '76, C. A., i y., '77, C. A., 8 

m., '78, R. L, 22 d. 
Parker, Stephen, 'So, W. Pt., 3 m., 'Si, C. A., 3 v. 
Patch, David, '76, C. A., i y. 
Patch, Daniel, '75, Cam., 3 in. 
Patch, Thomas, '75, L., '76 Ti., 6 m. 
Patten, Nathaniel, '75, Cam., B. H.,8 m., '76, 

Ti., 6 m., '77, C. A., 3 y., '80, C. A., 6 m. 
Phelps, John, '76, Ti., G. R. 
Phelps, Nathan, '75, L., '75, Cam., 3 m. 
Phelps, Samuel, '76, Ti., 6 in. 
Philbrick, John, '75, L. 
Pierce, Ephraim, '75, L., '76, Wh. P., 5 m., '77 

Al. T., '77, Ben., '79, C. A., ly. 
Pierce, Nehemiah, '75, Cam., B. H., 8 m., '77, 

C. A., 8 m. 
Pierce, .Solomon, '75, Cam., 3 m., '76, Ti., 6 m. 
Pierce, Richard, '76' Ti., G. R. 
Platts, John, '75, Cam., B. H., 8 in., '76 Wh. P. 

Sm. 
Pool, Dr. Jonathan, Assist. Surgeon, '76 to 'So 
Pool, William, '76, Ti., G. R. 
Pool, William W., '75, Cam., 3 m., '78, R. I. 

23 d. 



2o6 



NAMES OF HOLLIS SOLDIERS. 



[178.. 



Powers, Francis, '7"5, Cam., B. II., Sm., '77, Ben. 
Powers, Francis G., '79, C. A., i y., 'So, W. 

Pt., 3 m. 
Powers, Jonathan, '75, Cam., B. H.Sni. 
Powers, Nahum, '75, L., '75, Cam., B. II. Sm. 
Powers, Samson, '75, !>., '75, Cam., B. II. S in. 

'77, Ben. 
Powers, Stephen, '76, Port, and N. Y., 12 m. 
Pratt, Thomas, '75, L., '75 Cam., B. H.Sm. '76, 
C. A. I y ., '77, C. A., 3 y., '81 , for the war. 
Proctor, Ezekiel, '75, L.,'75, Cam., B. H., Sm. 

'76, C. A., I y. 'S^CA., 3y. 
Proctor, Ezra, '76, C. A., i y. 
Proctor, Joel, '78, C.A.,2 y., '81, tor the war. 
Proctor, Moses, '77, Al. T. 
Read, Jacob, '75, I-., '75, Cam., B. II., S ni. 
Read, Jolin, '75, Cam., 3 m., '76, C. A. i y. 
Read, Samuel, '81, 3 m. 
Richardson, Stephen, '76, C. A., i y., '77, C. 

A., 3 y., 'Si, C. A. for the war. 
Rideout, James, '77, Ben. 
Rogers, Lemuel, '81, C. A., for the war. 
Rolfe, Ephraim, '75, Cam., B. II., S m., '77, 

Ben- '78, R. I. 2j d. 
Kolfe, James, 'Si, C. A. 3 y. 
Runnells, Stephen, '77, Ben., '78, R. I., 22 d. 
Russ, Jonathan, '75, L., '75, Cam., 3 m., '77, 

Ben. 
Saunderson, Benjamin, '75, L., '76, \Vh. P., 

5 m. 
Saunderson, David, '76, N'. V., 2 m., '77, C. 

A. 3 y., '80, for tlie war. 
Seaver, Robert, '75, L., '75, Cam., 3 m., "77, 

Al. T. 
Sliattuck, Isaac, '70, I'ort. and N. V., 12 m. 
Shattuck, Jeremiah, '75, Cam. S ni. 
Shattuck, William, '75, Cam. 3 m., '76, N. "S'. 

2 ni. 
Shattuck, Zacluiriah, '75, Cam. 3 ni. 
Shed, Jonas, 77, Ben. 
Smith, Ephraim, '75, Cam., B. II. S m., "76, C. 

A., I y. 
Smith, Joshua, '76, Wh. P., 3 m. 
.Spantding-, Enoch, '70, Port, and X. V., 12 ni. 

'78, K. I., 6 ni. 
Spanlding, Jacob, '75, L., '75, Cam. B. 11. S m. 

'77, ALT., '78, K. ]., 22 d. 
Stearns, Isaac, '75, I^., '75, Cam., B. II., S m. 

'77, Al. T., '77. Ben. 
Stearns, Joseph, '76, Ti., 6 m., '77, Ben., '79, C. 

A. I y. 
Stevens, Isaac, Jun., '7(>, Ti., o m. 
Stiles, Caleb, '79, C. A., i y. 
Stiles, Caleb, Jun., '79, C. A., i y. 
Stiles, Eli, '76, C. A., 1 y., '77, C. A., S m.."So, 

C. A., for the war. 
Taylor, Amos, '75, I^., '75, Cam. B. II., S ni. 
Taylor, Daniel. '75, L., '75, C. B. 11., S ni. 
Taylor .Edward, '70, Ti., (J. II. 



Taylor, Jacob, '75, Cam. 3 m., '76, C. A., 1 y., 

'77, C. A., S m. 
Taylor, Jonathan, '75, Cam. 3 m. 
Tenney, Wm., Jun., '75, L., '75, Cam., 3 m., 

'76, Wh. P., 5 m. 
Thurston, Moses, '75, Cam., B. II., S m. 
Townsend, Ebenezer, '75, Cam., B. II., 8 m., 

'76, Ti., 6 m., '77, C. A., 3 y. 
Twiss, Asahel, 'Si, C. A., 3 y. 
Wallingford, Lt. David, '75, Cam., 8 m., '77, 

ALT., '77, Ben. 
Wheat, Joseph, '77, Al. Ti., '78, R. L, 23 d., 

'79, C. A., I y., 'So, for the war. 
Wheat, Nathaniel, '75, L., '75, Cam., 3 m. 
Wheat, Solomon, '76, Ti., G. R. 
Wheat, Thomas, '76, Port, and N. Y., 12 m. 
Wheat, Thomas, Jun., '75, L., '75, Cam., B. 

II., S m. 
Wheele_r, Abner, '77, Al. T., '77, Ben. 
Wheel'er, Ebenezer, '75, L., '76, Wh. P. 5 m. 
Wheeler, James, Jun., '75, Cam., 3 m. 
Wheeler, Lebbeus, '75, L., '75, Cam., B. H., S 

m., '77, C. A.,3y. 
Wheeler, Thaddeus, '75, L. 
Wilkins, Bray, '75, L., '75, Cam., S m. 
Wilkins, Israel, '75, L. 
Willoughby, Jonas, '82, N. Frontier, 6 m. 
WiUoughby, Samuel, '76, Ti., G. R. 
Wood, William, '75, L., '75, Cam. B. II., 8 m., 

'77, Ben. 
Woods, Jonas, '77, Al. T., '77, Ben., 78, R. I., 

22 d. 
Woods, Nehemiah, '77, Al. T. 
Worcester, Capt. Noah, '75, Cam. 3 m., '7S, U. 

I., 22 d. 
Worcester, Noah, Jun., '75, L., '75, Cam., K. 

II.. 8 m., '77, Ben. 
Worcester, Jesse, '76, Ti., 6 m., '77, ALT., 

'77, Port. 1 m., '7S, R. I., 22 d., 'So, C. A. 

6 m. 
Worcester, Samuel, '76, Port, and N. Y., 12 m. 
Wright, Benj., '75, L., '76, N. Y., 2 m. 
Wright, Benj., Jun., '75, L. 
Wright, Lemuel, '76, Ti.. 6 m., '77, Al. T. 
Wright, Sannicl, '75, Cam., B. II., 8 m., '77, 

Ben. 
Wright, Uriah, '75, L., '75, Cam., B. II., 8 m., 

•77. Al. T. 
Wvman, Jesse, '75, L., '76, N. Y., 2 m., '77, 

Ben. 
Youngman, Ebene/.er, '75, L., '75, Cam. B. H. 

8 m. 
Youngman, Jahe/, 'S2, during war. 
Youngman, John, '76, Ti., 6 m., '77, C. A., 3 

y., 'So, C. A., for the war. 
Youngman, Nicholas, '76, Ti. 6 m. 
A'oungman, Thomas, '76, C. A., i y., '77t t,'. 

A., 3 y., 'So, N. Frontier, 6 m. 



BIOGRAPHICAT. SKETCHES. 207 



CHAPTER XX. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE HOLLIS REVOLU- 
TIONARY OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS. 

BLOOD, NATHAN 

SOU of Nathaniel Blood, was born in Mollis April 4, 1747. Married 
Elizabeth Noyes, daughter of Dea. Enoch Noyes, April 16, 1772- 
Enlisted April 19, 1775, and was First Sergeant in the company of 
Capt. Dow at Bunker Hill, where he was killed June 17, i775- 

BROOKS, LIEUT. WH.LIAM 

came to Hollis about 1757. Married Abigail Kemp, in Hollis, 
March 39, 1759. Enlisted in 177S in Captain Emerson's company 
to Rhode Island, in which he was Second Lieutenant. Enlisted 
again in 1781, in the company of Capt. Mills, regiment of Col. 
Reynolds. Removed from Hollis after the Revolution. 

CONANT, DEA. JOSIAH 

son of Josiah Conant. Born in Hollis, October 17, 1746. Enlisted 
December, 1775, in the company of Capt. Worcester for Cambridge. 
Enlisted again in 1778 in the company of Capt. Emerson for Rhode 
Island, in which he was Sergeant. Deacon of the Hollis church in 
1787, till his death in Hollis, August 3i, 1807, ^^- ^^^ 

CONANT, DEA. ABEL 

son of Josiah Conant, born in Hollis October 3, 1755. Enlisted 
April 19, i775r and was in the company of Capt. Dow at the battle 
of Bunker Hill. Enlisted in 1776 in the Continental army for one 
year, and in 1778 in Capt, Emerson's company for Rhode Lsland. 
Married Pegga Jewett in Hollis, November 20, 1781. Chosen a 
deacon of the Hollis church in 1787. Removed to Hardwick, Vt., 
in 1813, where he died May 2, 1844, ^^- ^^• 

CUMINGS, ENSIGN JOHN 

born in Groton, Mass., March 16, 1737. His name was on the 
Hollis tax lists in 1758. Enlisted April 19, i775i and was Ensign 



2o8 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

or Second Lieutenant in the company of Capt. Dow at Bunker Hill. 
Removed after the war to Hancock, as is supposed. 

CUMINGS, CAPT. JOTIIAM 

son of Jerahmael Cumings, and a younajer brother of Henry 
Cumings, D.D.,of Billerica, ATass. Born December 19, 1741. 
He was a soldier in the French war in 1758- Married Anna 
Brown, of Hollis, April 27, 1763. Removed from Hollis to 
Plymouth, N. H., in 1764. Was Lieutenant in a company of New 
Hampshire Rangers in i775 ^^'^^^ ^"^'^^ for many years a deacon of the 
Plymouth church. Died at Plymouth, April i, iSoS, vet. 66. 

CUMINGS, WILLIAM 

was born in Groton, Mass., October 2, 1741. Came to Hollis about 
the year 1760. Married Mehitabel Eastman of Hollis, June 28, 
1768. Was Master of the Hollis Grammar School in 177=^, and for 
many years after. Was Town Clerk and First .Selectman in Hollis 
in 177^ '*"'^' ^77- — "^^^^^ again from 1782 to 17S8 inclusive. Enlisted 
in the army in 1776 and again in 1777. About the year 1790 he 
removed to Hebron, N. H., where he died October 2, 1831, ret. 90. 

DOW, CAPT. REUBEN 

came from Salem, N. H., and was in Hollis in 1761, and vSelectman 
in 1769 and i77°- Lieutenant of the Hollis Militia company in 
January, i775- Chosen captain of the Hollis company of Minute 
men to Cambridge, April 19, 177"^. Commissioned as captain of 
the Hollis company in Col. William Prcscott's regiment, May 19, 
1775. Wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill and was afterwards a 
United States' pensioner for life. He was chairman of the Hollis 
Committee of Safety in 1776, and Representative to the New 
Hampshire General Court in 1778. His two sons, Evan and 
Stephen, were Revolutionary soldiers. Died February 11, 181 1, 
a^t. 81. 

EASTMAN, LIEUT. AMOS 

was a son of Amos Eastman, Senior, born in Penacook, now 
Concord, N. IL, April 28, i7'^ii and came to Hollis with his 
father about the year 1759. Married Ruth Flagg, of Hollis, 
January 6, 1774. Enlisted April 19, 1775, and again in 1776 in the' 
regiment of Col. Gilman. He was for many years a Justice of the 
Peace, and Town clerk and First Selectman in 1S06. Died August 
2, 1832, set. 81. 




cy- -?^ Z-<j'_^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 2O9 

In the year 1752, his father, Amos Eastman, Senior, then living 
at Penacook, being on a hunting expedition, in the northerly 
part of New Hampshire, with Gen. John Stark and others, was, 
with Stark, taken prisoner by the Indians, and both of them taken 
to an Indian village in Canada. On their arrival at the village, 
both the captives were compelled to run the gauntlet between two 
files of savages, each armed with a switch or club with which to 
strike them as they passed between the lines. Stark, as is said, 
escaped widi but slight injury, but Eastman was cruelly beaten, and 
was afterwards sold to a French master, kindly treated by him and 
soon after redeemed and went home.* 

EMERSON, CAPT. DANIEL 

son of Rev. Daniel Emerson, born in Hollis, December 15, 1746. 
Married Ama Fletcher November 17, 1768. Chosen deacon of the 
Hollis church in 1775. Appointed Coroner and High Sheriff' of 
Hillsborough county in 1776. He was Captain of the Hollis com- 
pany that went to Ticonderoga in July of that year, and was also 
Captain of the company enlisted in Hollis in June i777' upo^i the 
Tico)ideroga Alarm. He was also in i77^ Captain of a mounted 
Hollis company that went to Rhode Island in the summer of that 
year, and also of a company In Col. Mooney's regiment raised for 
the defence of Rhode Island in 1779. Capt. Emerson was Town 
Clerk and First Selectman in 1780 and 1781. A member of the 
New Hampshire Council in 1787 — of the New Hampshire Con- 
stitutional Convention in 179^1 — 'i"fl ^ Representative to the New 
Hampshire General Court in nineteen different years, between 
1780 and 1812, His two oldest sons. Rev. Daniel Emerson, Jun., 
and Rev. Joseph Emerson, were graduates of Harvard, his third 
son. Rev. Ralph Emerson, D. D., of Yale (^. v.') His youngest 
son, William, was Colonel of the regiment to which Hollis was 
attached and was for many years a deacon of the Hollis church. 

The following epitaph is inscribed on the tomb stone of Capt 
Emerson in the Hollis central burial ground. 

" In Memoi-y of Daniel Emerson, Esq. 
Having faithfully and industriously served his generation 

As an officer of the Church 

As a Defender of Freedom 

As a Magistrate and Legislator 

As a friend of the Poor 
And as a Zealous Promoter of the Redeemer's Kingdom, 

He rested from his lahors 

October 4, 1S30, a;t. 74." 

(14) *See Bouton's History of Concord, p. iga. ! 



2IO • BIOGRAPIIICAI- SKETCHES. 

EMERSON, DR. PETER 

f5econd son of Rev. Daniel Emerson, born in Hollis, November 30, 
1749. Appointed Surgeon of the regiment of Col. Mooney, in 1779. 
Settled as a physician in Hillsborough, N. H., and died at 
Hillsborough in 1827, £Et, 78. 

EMERSON, LIEUT. RAEPII 

son of Rev. Daniel Emerson, born March 4, 1761. Enlisted July 
1776 at the age of fifteen in his brother's company for the defence of 
Ticonderoga. In April, 1777'' he enlisted in the Continental army 
for three years. Married Alice Ames, May 13, 1784. On his 
tombstone in the Hollis burial ground is the following inscription : 

" Erected to the Memory of I^icut. Ralph Emerson 
Who was instantly killed by the accidental discharge 
Of a cannon wliile exercising the matross, 
October 4, 1790, in the 30th year of his age. 
We drop apace, 
By nature some decay 
And some the gusts of fortune sweep away." 

FARLEY, CAPT. CALEB 

was born in Billerica, Mass., October 19, 1730. Married Elizabeth 
Farley, October 11, 1754- He was a soldier from Billerica in the 
French w^ar of 1755, and came to Hollis in November, 1765, and 
was Selectman in 1767- He enlisted in i77^ ''^ *^^^ regiment of 
Col. Pierce Long for New York and Canada, and in 177S he was 
Lieutenant in Capt. Emerson's mounted company, enlisted in Hollis 
for the defence of Rhode Island. Died in Hollis, April 5, 1833, 
aet. 1 03 years, 5 months. 

FARMER, MINOT 

son of Benjamin Farmer, born 1750. Enlisted April 19, 1775, in 
the Hollis company of minute men in which he was a Sergeant, and 
he was also a Sergeant in the company of Capt. Dow, at the battle 
of Bunker Hill. Married Abigail Barron, September 15, i775' 
In the fall or winter of i775' ^^^ enlisted in Gen. Arnold's expedition 
to Canada. Was taken prisoner in the attack on Qiiebec, and died 
in captivity. May 9, i'/'j6, a;t. 26. He is supposed to have held the 
rank of Ensign. 

GOSS. CAPT. JOHN 

was born at .Salisbury, Mass., February 13, 1739. His name first 
appears on the Hollis tax lists in 1770. Married Catharine Conant, 
of Hollis, February 10, 1774, and was Selectman in Hollis the same 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 211 

year. He was Lieutenant in the Hoilis company of minute men, 
that went to Cambridge April 19, i775' "^^^^^ '^^^^ ^'^ ^^^^ Hoilis 
company at the battle of Bunker Hill. In the year i777 '^^ ^^'^^ ^^^'^ 
Captain of the Hoilis company that went to Bennington. About 
the year 1805 he removed with his family to Hardwick, Vt., where 
he died September 26, 1831, set. Sz. 

HALE, COL. JOHN 

was born in Sutton, Mass., October 24, 1731. Settled, as a 
physician in Hoilis, at the age of about 24. He was Assistant 
Surgeon in 1755 in the regiment of Col. Joseph Blanchard, in the 
French w^ar, and Surgeon in Col. Hart's regiment, in 1758 in the 
same war. He was Representative to the New Hampshire General 
Court from Hoilis and Dunstable from 1762 to 1768. In 1767 he 
was Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fifth regiment of the New 
Hampshire Militia, and Colonel of the same regiment in I'J'JSf ^"^ 
the same year he was Representative from Hoilis to the New 
Hampshire General Court, and also to the New Hampshire 
Provincial Congress. He was Surgeon of the First New Hampshire 
Continental regiment, from 177^ '^ i'J^o, and a member of the 
New Hampshire Council in the year last named. After the war 
was ended he continued in the practice of his profession in Hoilis, 
in which he was distinguished, till his death in 1791. His three 
sons, John, Jun., David and William were all soldiers in the war.. 
The following epitaph is inscribed on his tombstone in the central, 
burying ground. 

" Erected to the Memory of 

Dr. John Hale, 

' Who was born October 34, 173J, 

Died October 23, 1791. 

How soon our new born light attains to full agc'd noon 

And that how soon to gray haired night, 
We spring, we bud, we blossom, and we blast 
Ere we can count our days tliey tly so fast." 

HALE, DR. WILLIAM 

son of Col. John Hale, born in Hoilis, July 37, 1762. Enlisted for 
three years in the Continental Army, April, 1777, when in his 
fifteenth year. After his discharge from the army studied medicine 
with his father and succeeded him in his practice. He was a man 
of great energy, and had a large practice in his profession. Died 
October 10, 1854, vet. 92, and he is said to have been the last 
survivor of the 1 200 men whose names are found on the rolls of the 
First New Hampshire Continental regiment. 



212 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

IIOBART, COL. DAVID 

son of Peter Ilobart and grandson of Gershom Ilohart, the third 
minister of Groton, Mass., born in Groton, August 21, 1723. 
Settled in that part of Hollis known as "• One Pine Hill," about 
1748, and was a Sergeant in the company of Capt. Powers in the 
French war in 1755. He was one of the grantees of Plymouth, N. 
H., and one of the first settlers of that town. His name last 
appears on the Hollis tax lists in 1765. In i777 ^^^ ^'^^ Colonel of 
the Twelfth New Hampshire regiment of militia and had command 
of a New Hampshire regiment under Gen. Stark at the battle of 
Bennington, where he greatly distinguished himself for his gallantry 
and good conduct, for which he received due commendation from 
Gen. Stark in his report of the battle. In that battle Col. Hobart 
with Col. Stickncy led the attack against the Tory breast-work on 
the right where the contest was most desperate — the Tories it is said 
" fighting like tigers," and neither asking nor giving quarter. Col. 
Hobart having lost his wife, after the war removed to Haverhill, 
Mass., married a second wife and died soon after at Haverhill. The 
name of this heroic officer is erroneously spelt "Hubbard" in 
"■ Belknap's Plistory of New Plampshire," as it also was said to have 
been in Gen. Stark's report of the battle. 

HOBART, COL. SAMUEL 

a younger brother of Col. David Hobart, born in Groton, August 
II, 1734. Settled in Plollis during the French war of i755- Was 
a. Sergeant in that war in 1758. Adjutant of Col. GolTe's regi- 
ment in 1760, and an Ensign in 1761. In 1767 he was Major of the 
Fifth New Hampshire regiment of militia. Representative to the 
General Court from Hollis for six years, from 1768 to i774* ^^ ^^^^ 
year last named was appointed Colonel of the Second New 
Hampshire regiment of minute men, and was a delegate from 
Hollis to the New Hampshire Provincial Congress. Upon the 
organization of Hillsborough county in i77^' ^^^ ^'♦^^ appointed 
Register of Deeds, County Treasurer and one of the Justices of the 
county court. In 1775 he was appointed Muster Master, and also 
Paymaster of the New Plampshire regiments at Cambridge. In 1777 
he contracted with the State government to manufacture gimpowder 
for the State, and removed from Hollis to Exeter. Was represen- 
tative to the General Court from Exeter in 1777 and 1778, and a 
member of the State Committee of Safety in 1779 and 1780. Anna 
Hobart, the first wife of Col. Ilobart, died in Hollis, May 20, i7;-3. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 213 

After he removed from Hollis he continued to reside in Exeter for 
several years after the war, married a second time, and finally 
removed to Kingston, N. H., where he died June 4, 17985 a^t. 63. 

JEWETT, LT. EBENEZER 

son of Dea. NatlianicI Jewett, born 1743, enlisted in June, 1777? i" 
the company of Ca^ot. Emerson, on the "Ticonderoga Alarm," and 
in 1780 in the company of Capt. Barron, regiment of Col. Nichols, 
for the defence of West Point, in which company he was Lieuten- 
ant. Was Selectman in 1783. He married Mary Rideout in i793- 
Died Oct. 6, 1826, a^t S3. 

JEWETT, JUN., DEACON STEPHEN 

son of Dea. Stephen Jewett, born in Hollis, October 4, 1753. En- 
listed in 1775 "^ ^^^^ company of Capt. Worcester for Cambridge, 
and in 1776 in the company of Capt. Reed for White Plains. Mar- 
ried Elizabeth Pool, November 16, 1778- Chosen deacon of the 
Hollis church, 1805. Died February 23, 1829, sat. 75. 

KENDRICK, CAPT. DANIEL 

born 1736, son of Daniel Kendrick. Selectman in 1775, '76, and 
'77. Member of the Hollis Committee of Safety in 1776 and 1777- 
Enlisted in CajDt. Emerson's moimted company for Rhode Island 
in 1778. Married Mary Pool, February 13, 1782. His oldest son, 
Daniel, was a graduate of Brown University. His youngest, 
William P., of Harvard, (f/. v.) Died May 20, 1/89, at. 53. 

LEEMAN, JUN., ENSIGN SAMUEL 

son of Samuel Leeman, born in Hollis August 7, 1749. Enlisted 
April 19, 1775. Was at the battle of Bunker Hill in tlie company 
of Capt. Spalding, regiment of Col. Reed. Enlisted in 1776 in 
the Continental army, and again in the Continental army in i777 
in the company of Capt. Frye, ist New Hampshire regiment, in 
which he was Ensign. Killed at the battle near Saratoga, October 
10, 1777, jet. 28. 

NEVINS, JUN. ENSIGN WILLIAM 

son of William Nevins, born in Hollis, July 26, 1746, married 
Rebecca Chamberlain, March 24, 1768. Enlisted April 19, 1775, 
and was Sergeant, and also a Sergeant in the company of Capt. 
Dow at Bunker Hill. Enlisted in 177^ ^^^' *^"*^ year in the Continen- 
tal army. Died in New York, 1776, a^t. 30. 



214 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

POOL, DR. JONATHAN 

son of Eleazer Pool, born at Woburn, September 5, 1758. Studied 
medicine with Col. John Hale in Hollis, was Assistant Surgeon in 
the 1st New Hampshire regiment from 1776 to 1780. Married 
Elizabeth Hale, daughter of Col. John Hale, December 7, 1780, 
and settled as a physician in Hollis, where he died July 25, 1797, 

JEt. 38. 

SEAVER, CAPT. ROBERT 

born 1743, name first on the Hollis tax lists in 1767. Enlisted 
April 19, 1775' ^^'^^ Lieutenant in Capt. Worcester's company for 
Cambridge in 1775, and also in Capt. Emerson's company in June 
1777. Died November 3, 1828, set. 85. 

TENNEY, CAPT. WILLIAM 

was the son of William and Anna Tenney and was born in Hollis, 
March 17, 1755. April 19, 1775, he enlisted in the company of the 
Hollis minute men ; and in December 1775 in the company of Capt. 
Worcester, for Cambridge, and again in 177*^ ^" ^^^'^^ °^ Capt. 
Reed, for White Plains. Married Phcbe Jewett in 1776 by whom 
he had ten children, five sons and five daughters. His sons, Caleb 
Jewett, and William, were graduates of Dartmouth. (</. v.) Died 
June 16, 1S06, a^t. 51. 

His youngest son, Hon. Ralph E. Tenney, born October 5, 179O1 
settled as a farmer in Hollis, upon his paternal homestead. He 
was for many years a Justice of the Peace and Qiiorum. and was 
frequently elected by his townsmen to offices of honor and trust. 
For his first wife he married Olive Brown, of Hollis, November 12, 
181 2, by whom he had one daughter. After her decease, he mar- 
ried, August 14, 1818, for his second wife. Miss Phebe C. Smith, 
born in Dracut, Mass., June 2, 1790. At an early age Miss Smith 
went to IMerrimack, N. H., to reside with her step father, Simeon 
Cumings, Esq., upon whose decease she came to Hollis with her 
mother to care for her, in her declining years. She was afterwards, 
in her earlier years, widely known in Hollis as an excellent and 
popular school teacher, and as an assistant of Mr. Ambrose Gould, 
in his store. 

She had by Mr. Tenney a family of nine children, and upon her 
marriage became an honored wife and a devoted, faithful and 
beloved mother. vShe was also a kind neighlwr and an efficient 
and cheerful helper in works of benevolence and charity, and a 




^ 

4 
^ 

J 



v^ 




Vi 



\^,^^ ^^^f"-""'^- 



■^^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 215 

consistent and exemplary member of the church for more than half 
a century. Died February 17, 1864, set. 73. 

In addition to his other offices, Mr. Tenney was Representative 
from Ilollis to the New Hampshire General Court, in 1832, '33, '34, 
and in 1845, and a member of the New Hampshire Senate in 1847 
and 184S. Died October 19, 1854, set. 64. 

WALLINGFORD, LIEUT. DAVID 

son of Jonathan Wallingford, born in Bradford, Mass., September 
25, 1744. Married Elizabeth Leeman, of Hollis, March 25, 1767. 
His name was first on the Hollis tax lists in 1770- He enlisted 
April 19, 1775. in the company of Hollis minute men, commanded 
by Cajot. Dow. In 1775, he was afterwards Lieutenant in the com- 
pany of Capt. Town, in the Massachusetts regiment, under Col. 
Hutchinson. In June, i777' ^^^ ^'^'^^ '^^^*-* Lieutenant in the company 
of Capt. Emerson, and again Lieutenant, in July, i777' "^ ^^^^ com- 
pany of Capt. Goss, that went from Hollis to Bennington. Died in 
Hollis, March 12, 1791, itt. 46. 

WEBSTER, COL. DAVID 

son of Stephen Webster, was born in Chester, N. H., December 

10, 1738. Removed from Hollis to Plymouth, N. H., among the 
first settlers of that town in 1764, and is said to have driven the first 
ox team to Plymouth. He was a soldier in the French w'ar, in 
*757' '^'^^^ again in 1760. He was Ensign in the militia company of 
Plymouth ; enlisted in the army, and rose to be Colonel of a New 
Hampshire volunteer regiment which he commanded at the taking 
of Gen. Burgoyne, in 1777. He was, after the war, High Sheriff" 
of Grafton county for thirty years. Died at Holderness. N. H., 
May 8, 1824, set. 85. 

WEBSTER, CAPT. AMOS 

was a brother of Col. David Webster, and also born in Chester, N. 

11. He also removed from Ilollis to Plymouth among its earliest 
■settlers. He was Lieutenant in the Third New Hampshire Conti- 
nental regiment in 1776, and a Captain in the same regiment in 
1777, and was killed at the battle at Saratoga, in October of that 
year. Just before he expired, he asked: " Which side gave 
ii'ayF' Being told, " The British" he replied : " // is etwugh^ 
J die in peace." 



2i5 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

WOOD, ENSIGN, WILLIAM 

enlisted April 19. i775- and was afterwards in the company of 
Capt. Dow at the battle of Bunker Hill, at which he was so severely 
wounded, that he became a United States pensioner for life. In 
1777, he a-ain enlisted, and was in the company of Capt Goss at 
the battle of Bennington, August 18, i777- He nKirned Susannah 
Wri<^ht, daughter of Capt. Joshua Wright, by whom he had five 
sons and nine daughters, all of whom, with the exception of one 
son, lived to adult age and were married and had families. Died 
1826, ait. 73. 

WILLOUGIIBY, CAPT. JOHN 

son of John WiUoughby, born in Billerica, Mass., in 1736. Capt. 
WiUoughby removed from Hollis to Plymouth, among the first set- 
tlers of that town, and was a Captain in Col. David Webster s reg- 
iment at the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga. He afterwards was 
deacon of theTlymouth church for 67 years, and died at I lymouth, 
June 22, 1834, let. 98. 

WORCESTER, CAPT. IsOAH 

youngest son of Rev. Francis Worcester, born at SandwichMass., 
October 4, I73v married Lydia Taylor, daughter of Abraham 
?: loi, rtbriu-y 22, X757- He was Captain of the Hollis mihtia 
company in 1775. and of the Hollis company to Cambridge m De- 
cember of that year. He eillisted in the Hollis company to Rhode 
Island in 1778. Was Town clerk and first Selectman in 1775, 7^^' 
'77, '78, and '79; chairman of the Hollis Committee of Safety in 
1777, '78 and '79; appointed Justice of the Peace in i777^ and held 
that office forty years ; chosen a member of the Constitutional Con- 
vention of 1778 ; was moderator of the Hollis annual 1 own meet- 
h.^s in fifteen difierent years, between I78-^ and 1801 and was an 
active member of the Hollis church for sixty years. H is two old- 
est sons, Noah and Jesse, were soldiers in the Revolution ; and fou. 
of them, viz., Noah, Leonard, Thomas and Samuel, became clei- 
gvm.n. (^ V.) Died at Hollis, August 13. 181 7- >n his 82d year. 

WORCESTER, JESSE 

■ 2d son of Capt. Noah Worcester, born in Hollis, April ?>o,i7^^ ■ 
Enlisted July. 1776, in the company of Capt. Emerson, for licon- 
deroga: in 1777 in the garrison at Portsmouth; in 1773- "i Capt. 




r^ 






VJ 





\ 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 21 7 

Emerson's company to Rhode Island, and in 17S0 in the Continental 
Army. In June, 1782, he married Sarah Parker of Hollis, by 
whom he had nine sons and six daughters, who all lived to adult 
age, and fourteen of whom became teachers in the pviblic schools or 
academies. In 1782, he removed to Bedford, New Hampshire, 
and returned again to Hollis in 17945 ^^'^tl settled upon his ancestral 
homestead, where he resided till his decease, Jan. 20, 1834, in his 
73d year. Mr. Worcester was for many years a teacher in the pub- 
lic schools in Bedford and Hollis, an occasional contributor to the 
public journals of the day, and was the author of an unpublished 
work called the " Chronicles of JVlssltlsslL" Seven of his nine 
sons aspired to a collegiate education. The eldest, Jesse Worcester, 
Juu., died after being prepared to enter the Junior class at Dart- 
mouth. The youngest, David, after spending two years at Harvard, 
left college and became a teacher. Joseph E. and Henry A., were 
graduates of Yale; Taylor G., Samuel T., and Frederick A. of 
HaiA'ard. The third son, Leonard, was a machinist; John N., the 
fifth son, settled in Hollis as a farmer, at first upon the paternal 
homestead, and v>as chosen State Councillor in the years 185S and 
1859. 



2l8 THE WAR OF l8l3. [iSlJ. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

HOLLIS IN THE WAR OF I Si 2. AND IN THE WAR OF THE RE- 
BELLION. HOLLIS SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF l8l2. SOLDIERS 

FURNISHED FROM THE TOWN FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE 

REBELLION. REGIMENTS IN WHICH THEY ENLISTED. DATE 

OF ENLISTMENT, AND TIME OF SERVICE. CASUALTIES, ETC. 

soldier's AID SOCIETY AND SOLDIER's MONUMENT. CAPT. 

AMES. LIEUT. WORCESTER. LIEUT. FARLEY. 

The Declaration of War by the United States against Great 
Britain in iSi3 was not generally appi^oved in New England, nor 
in this part of it was this war afterwards popular. Party feeling in 
respect to it was highly excited and violent, and but little was done 
in the first years of the war to favor voluntary enlistments. A decided 
majority of the voters in Hollis shared strongly in this common 
sentiment of disapproval. No special call is known to have been 
made upon the town for the regular army, either for drafted men or 
volunteers, and but few Ilollis men are known to have enlisted in 
the regular service, and of those few it is now dilhcidt to learn the 
names or number. 

Capt. Jonathan B. Eastman, of Ilollis, was at the time a Captain 
in the regular army and afterwards promoted to United States' 
Paymaster, and Capt. Levi Powers, a son of Samson Powers, was 
employed as a recruiting officer, and is said to have held a commis- 
sion as captain in the army. In the report of the Adjutant-General 
for iS6S, I find the names of Jacob Ilobart and Benjamin Ranger, 
two Ilollis soldiers, who enlisted in the regular army in 1812. 
Besides Ilobart and Ranger, Abel Brown, William N. Lovejoy'and 
Isaac Hardy are known to ha\e been in the regular service. Lovejoy 
died of disease in the service, and Hardy, who was in the navy, was 
killed in the naval batttle on Lake Erie, fought under Com. Perry, 
September 10, 1S13. 



l86l.] WAR OF THE REBELLION. 219 

In the summer and early in the fall of 1814, a powerful British 
fleet was cruising along the north coast of New England, and an 
attack w as apprehended upon Portsmouth. In consequence of this 
apprehension, Gov. Gilman issued a proclamation, calling for New 
Hampshire troops for the defence of that city, and a number of 
regiments of " Detached Militia," so called, was raised for this pur- 
pose — some for sixty and the rest for ninety days, and ordered to 
Portsmouth. The whole number of men assigned to Hollis not 
having been obtained by voluntary enlistment, a draft was ordered 
from the two Hollis militia companies to supply the deficiency. In 
view of this draft at a special town meeting held October 17, 18 14, 
the town voted to " each of the soldiers who had been drafted $15 
per month, including their Continental pay." 

In the report of the Adjutant General for 1868, above referred to, 
I find the following names of Hollis men who went to Portsmouth, 
viz., William Emerson, who was an Ensign in the regiment of 
Lieut. Col. Foot, and Daniel Lawrence, Jun., and Phineas Cumings 
who served in a regiment of artillery. Besides the men above 
named I find in that report credited to Hollis, the names of Leonard 
Blood, Isaac Butterfield, John Butterfield, John Drew, Ilezekiah 
Kendall and David Powers. It is also known that Ephraini Burge, 
Jun., and Nathaniel Hobart, names not found in that report, were 
also soldiers from Hollis for the defence of Portsmouth. Some 
of the men above named are known to have been volunteers, the 
rest of them were drafted, or were substitutes for drafted men. 

LISTS OF THE NAMES OF THE SOLDIERS FURNISHED BY HOLLIS IN 
THE WAR FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE SOUTHERN REBELLIQN. 

There is not in this history space, nor is it pertinent here to speak 
at length of what was done by the people of New Hampshire in aid 
of the National Government in the war for the suppression of the 
late Southern Rebellion. Nor is it needful here to tell. The story 
of the doings of the State in this war has been well, if not fullv told 
in histories already written and now before the public. In addition 
to these histories the names of the officers and private soldiers in the 
twenty or more regiments raised in the State, telling also of their 
campaigns and the parts of the country where they served and of the 
many battles in which they fought, have been published by authority 
of the State in an official State record of the war. Suffice it here to 
say, that in this war to save the nation and to perpetuate the union 
of the States, which the people of New Hampshire, one hundred 



220 THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. [lS6l- 

years ago so freely and nobly shed their blood and lavishe.l their 
treasure to establish, the good name and fair fame of the State 
suflered no dishonor. In the war of the Rebellion as in that of the 
Revolution, each call upon the State for enlistments and re-enforce- 
ments was promptly and cheerfully met, and in the war to save the 
nation, as in that in w hicli its indejDcndence vas won, the New 
Hampshire regiments were distinguished for their intrepidity, good 
conduct and devotion to duty. In most of the great and hard fought 
battles of the war, the blood of New liamj^shire men flowed freely 
and mingled in full proportion with that of the brave soldiers from 
all the other loyal States, and their graves are marked and numbered 
b}' thousands in the cemeteries about the battle-fiekls where they 
fell and near the hospitals in which they pined and died. 

The people of Hollis in this fearful struggle for the nation's life 
were at no time forgetful of their duty to their country, or of the 
memory and example of their worthy and j3atriotic ancestors. As 
in the war of the Revolution so in that of the Rebellion, the quota 
of soldiers allotted b}' the vState to the town, on the many calls for 
troops, was not only as then promptly filled, but it appears from the 
official returns, that the numberactually furnished, as in many other 
New Hampshire towns, was in excess of the number required. 

The names of the Hollis soldiers, with the date of their enlistment 
or mustering, time of service, and the regiments and companies in 
which they served, are presented in the following lists. 

HOLLIS SOLDIERS ENLISTED IN 1861, IST NEW HAMPSHIRE REG- 
IMENT. 

This regiment was raiserl in answer to the call of President Lin- 
colh of April 15, 1S61, for 75,000 men for three nionths. This 
regiment was commanded by Col. Mason W. Tappan of Bradford, 
• — had its rendezvous at Concord — was mustered in that place on 
the 4th of May — left for Washington and the seat of war on the 
25th — and upon the expiration of its term of service, returned to 
and was mustered out at Concord on 'the following 9th of August. 
This first regiment, for most of its terni of service was on duty along 
the Potomac river, between Washington and Harper's Ferry. It 
was engaged in some skirmishes with the enemy, but in no mem- 
orable battle. All the other regiments raised in New Hampshire 
in i86i,were enlisted under the call of the President, for three 
years. The Hollis men in this regiment were, 

French, William F. Enlisttd, company F, May 3, 1S61. Mustered out August 9, i86«. 
J.-iquiUi, Asa W. Enlisted, company F, May 3, 1S61, Mustered out, August 9, 1S61. 



l86lj THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 221 

SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE REGLMENT ENLISTED FOR THREE YEARS. 

This regiment had its rendezvous at Portsmouth, and was com- 
manded by Col. Gihiian Marston of Exeter. The men were en- 
listed in the months of May and June, and the regiment w^as mus- 
tered in on the 4th of June and left Portsmouth for Washington and 
Virginia on the 20th of that month. This regiment was present 
at the first battle at Bull Run, at Gettysburg, and most of the great 
battles of the war fought in Virginia. 

IIOI^LIS SOLDIERS IN THE SECOND REGIMENT. 

Beard, Samuel J. Enlisted June 5, iS5i, company G. Wounded at Fair Oaks, Virginia, June 
25, 1S62. Discharged for disability, December 9, 1S63. 

Worcester, George. Enlisted, company C, June i, 1S61. Mustered out June 21, 1S64. 

Greeley, George P. Appointed Assistant Surgeon, May 3,1861. Resigned June 3, 1861. Ap. 
pointed Assistant Surgeon Fourth New Hampshire Regiment, August i, 1S61. Promoted 
to Surgeon October S, 1S62. Honorably discharged, October 33, 1S64. 

THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT ENLISTED FOR THREE YEARS, 

AUGUST, 1 86 1. 

This regiment was organized at Concord. Its first Colonel w^as 
Enoch Q. Fellows of Sandwich, who resigned June 26, 1S62, and 
was succeeded by Col. John H. Jackson of Portsmouth, who upon 
being honorably discharged, February 24, 1864, was succeeded by 
Col. John Bedel of Bath. The regiment was enlisted under the 
Act of Congress of July 22, 1S61, authorizing the enlistment of 
500,000 volunteers for three 5'ears, and was mustered into the 
United States service about the last of August. It left Concord 
September 3, for Long Island, thence on the 14th to Washington, 
and from Washington, on the following 19th of October, it was or- 
dered to the seat of war in South Carolina. It was on duty in 
South Carolina and Florida till the spring of 1864, and in the mean- 
while was present at nearly all the battles in those States, including 
the blood}' assault upon Fort Wagner. Tlie regiment was ordered 
to Virginia near the last of April, 1864, and was in most of the 
battles afterwards fought in that State till the end of the war. 

The Hollis soldiers, whose names appear below, enlisted in com- 
pany F., of this regiment, Aug. 23, 1861. 

Blood, Stillman. Re-enlisted February 13, 1S64. Mustered out, May 15, iSfSc. 
Chase, Charles F. Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, 3d Soutli Carolina Volunteer.s. 
Chase, James L. Wounded June ij, iS'Sj. Re-cniisted February 13, 1S64. 
Conroy, Leonard. Mustered out, August 23, 1864. 

Davis, Caleb. Wounded August 16, 1S64. Mustered out, August S3, 1S64. 
Doherty, John O, Discharged for disability, September 15, iS6j. 



232 THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. [iS&l. 

FOURTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT. 

This regiment was enlisted and organized at Manchester, was 
mustered in at Manchester, September, iS6i, and left that city for 
South Carolina, by way of Washington and Fortress Monroe, Sep- 
tember 37, under command of Col. Thomas J. Whipple of Laconia. 
It was on duty in South Carolina and Florida till April, 1S64, when 
it was ordered to Virginia, and was in service in that State and 
North Carolina till the close of the war. Among the many battles 
in which it fought was the assault on Fort Wagner, July, 1863, the 
battle of Bermuda Hundred, Va., May, 1S64, and in that at Fort 
Fisher, N. C, January, 1865. In company B, of this regiment, 
were two IloUis soldiers who enlisted September iS, 1S61, and 
whose names were 

Jewett, Perley J., who died of disease at Morris Island, S. C, December 3, 1863. 
Mansfield, William. Mustered out September 27, 1864. 

SEVENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT, ENLISTED FOR THREE 

YEARS. 

This regiment was also enlisted and had its rendezvous at 
Manchester and was mustered into the United States service Decem- 
ber 14, 1 86 1, under Col. Haldimand S. Putnam, of Cornish. Col. 
Putnam was killed July i8, 1863, in the assault on Fort Wagner, 
and was succeeded in the command by Col. Joseph C. Abbott, of 
Manchester. The regiment left Manchester, for Florida, by the 
way of New York, January 14, 1862, and was in the service in 
Florida and South Carolina till April 1S64, when it was ordered to. 
Virginia. 

While in the two former States, among other battles in which this 
regiment was engaged, it was present and lost heavily in the assault 
on Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863, and also at the bloody and disastrous 
battle at Olustee, Fla., February 20, 1S64. After coming north it 
was present and engaged in many of the battles near Richmond, 
Va., and also in the capture of Fort Fisher, N. C. In company H 
of this regiment were forty-one Hollis soldiers, mustered in for three 
years, December 14, 1S61, the survivors of whom not before (fis- 
charged or re-enlisted, were mustered out at the expiration of their 
term, at Manchester, December 22, 1S64. The names of these men 
are presented in the following list: 

Ames, Nathan M. Commissioned Captain of Company II, December 14, 1S61. Mustered out. 

December 22, 1S64. 
Austin, Mark J. Promoted to Fifth Sergeant December 14, iS6i. Mustered out December 83^ 

1864. 



l86l.] THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 223 

Ball, Henry. Accidentally killed himself at Beaufort, S. C, June 36, 1863. 

Bartemus, George H. Mustered out December Z2, 1S64. 

Bills, John P. Killed at Fort Wagner, July iS, 1S63. 

Boynton, John F. Wounded at Olustee, Fla., February 20, 1864. Re-enlisted February 28, 
1864. Promoted to Corporal January 26, 1S65. Promoted to Sergeant June 13, 1865. Mus- 
tered out July 20, 1865. 

Burge, Charles H. Discharged for disability at St. Augustine, Fla., January 4, 1863. 

Burge, George A. Promoted to Coiporal May 25, 1862. Promoted to Sergeant December 9, 

1863. Mustered out December 22, 1864. 

Coburn, John A. Promoted to Fourth Sergeant December 14, 1861. First Sergeant Decemberi 
28, 1863. Re-enlisted Veteran, February 28, 1864. Promoted to Captain Company E, 
December 12, 1864. Mustered out July 20, 1S65. 

Colburn, Edward S. Transferred to Invalid Corps, March 29, 1S64. 

Colburn, Josiali. Wounded at Bermuda Hundred, Va., May 20, 1864. Mustered out December 

23, 1S64. 

Colburn, Daniel W. Promoted to Corporal December 14, i86i. Died of disease, at Holliff 

February 28, 1862. 
Day, Henry M. H. Promoted to Corporal December 14, 1861. Wounded at Olustee, Fla. 

February 20, 1864. Mustered out December 22, 1864. 
Duncklee, Ebenezer P. Discharged for disability, February, 1S62. 
Farley, Benjamin L. Discharged for disability at Fort Jefferson, Fla., June 26, 1S62. 
Farley, Charles H. Promoted to First Sergeant, December 14, 1861. Second Lieutenant June 

30, 1862. First Lieutenant August 6, 1863. Wounded, mortally, .at Olustee, Fla., February 

20, 1864. 
Fletcher Charles H. Died of disease at Beaufort, S. C, August lo, 1S62. 
Hayden, Daniel W. Promoted to Corporal December 5, 1862. Wounded at Fort Wagner, July 

18, 1863. Promoted to Sergeant February 3, 1864. Wounded at Olustee, February 20, 

1864. Discharged for disability April 29, 1864. 

Hayden, John W. Promoted to Corporal December 14, 1S61. Died of disease at New York 

City, February 8, 1862. 
Hayden, J. Newton. Wounded May 14, 1864. Mustered out December 22, 1864. 
Hills, Albert F. Wounded at Olustee, Fla., February 20, 1S64. Mustered out December 32, 1864. 
Hills, Alfred F., Mustered out December 22, 1S64. 

Hobart, Jonathan B. Died of disease at Morris Island, S. C, August 23, 1S63. 
Hood, Frank P. Wounded at Fort Wagner, July iS, 1863. Discharged on account of wounds 

Nov. 25, 1863. 
Howard, James C. Wounded at Fort Wagner July 18, 1863. Mustered out December 22, 1864. 
Howe, Norman R. Promoted to Corporal, December 14, 1S61. Died of disease at Beaufort, 

S. C, Aug. 15, 1862. 
Jaquith, George D. Mustered out December 22, 1864. 
Lovejoy, Francis. Promoted to 3d Sergeant December 14, 1861. To 2d Lieutenant, August 6, 

1863. Honorably discharged April 28, 1864. 
Lund, John. Discharged for disability at Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 26, 1862. 
Lund, William. Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, March 29, 1S64. Mustered out 

December 22, 1S64. 
Price, Stephen H. Promoted to Corporal, Dec. 14, 1861. Re-enlisted Veteran, February 

28,1864. Mustered out July 20, 1865. 
Rideout, Charles G. Mustered out December 23, 1864. 

Smith, Freeman H. Discharged for disability at Fort Jefferson, July 20, 1863. 
Spalding, Wm. F. Promoted to ist Sergeant, December 14, 1S61. To ist Lieutenant, July 

18, 1863, Company C. Mustered out December 22, 1864. 
Spalding, Winslow J. Promoted to Corporal October 10, 1S62. Promoted to Sergeant. Cap- 

tured at Fort Wagner July 18, 1863. Exchanged, January 21, 1864. Mustered out Decem- 
ber 22, 1864. 
Truell, Nathaniel L. Promoted to Corporal December 14, 1S61. Mustered out December 

33, 1S64. 
Worcester, Charles H. Promoted to Corporal December 14, 1S61. To Sergeant, October 9, 

1863. Wounded near Richmond, Virginia, October i, 1864. Mustered out December 

^a, 1864. 



224 THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. [1862. 

Worcester, John H. Promoted to 2d Lieutenant, December 14, 1861. To ist Lieutenant, June 
30,1862, Mortally wounded, July iS, 1S63, at Fort Wagner. Died of wounds July 36, 
1S63, 

Worcester, William. Mustered out December 22, 1864. 

Wright, Ezra S. Mustered out December 23, 1S64. 

Wright, Mathaniel H. Died of disease at St. Augustine, Florida, November 37, 1863. 



EIGHTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT. 

This regiment \vas;ilso enlisted at Manchester in tlic fall and early 
in the winter of 1S61, and was mustered in at Manchester Decem- 
ber 23, 1861, commanded by Col. ITawkcs Fearing, Jun., of that 
city. It left Manchester Jan. 24, 1S62, for Ship Island, Mississippi, 
by the way of Boston, and was afterwards in the service in Louisiana 
and other States bordering on the Mississippi river till the expiration 
of its term of enlistment. The Hollis soldiers named below enlisted 
for three years in this regiment in the fall or winter of 1861. 

Austin, Albert S. Company E, enlisted December 30. Transferred to Veteran Reserve 
Corps, April, 1S64. 

Conant, Andrew H. Company E, enlisted December 20. Promoted to Corporal, February 
14, 1863'. Re-enlisted, January 4, 1S64. Died atNatches, Miss., October 10, 1865. 

Elkins, Freeman. Company E, enlisted December 20. Discharged for disability, at Ship 
Island, Miss., April 10, 1S62. 

Jones, James, W. D. Company A, enli.'^tcd October 25. Died at camp Kearney. La., Octo- 
ber 26, 1862. 

Patch, Joseph T. Company A, enlisted October 25. Discharged for disability. Died at 
Nashua, July iS, 1S63. 

Prior to the month u( August, 1S62, no bounties to volunteers, to 
fill the quota of Hollis in the war, had been ofiered or paid by the 
town. Till that date all the several calls upon the town for enlist- 
ments had been cheerfully and fully met by its patriotic young men. 
But owing in par*^^ to the large number of Hollis men then in the 
army, and in part also to a depreciation of the paper currency then 
in use, the calls for enlistments after the first of August, 1S62, were 
not so promptly filled. In view of this state of focts, and to stimu- 
late enlistments, the town, at a meeting held on the 12th of August 
of that year, " voted to pay a bounty of $200 to any inhabitant of 
Hollis who would enlist for three years, or during the war, or 
should volunteer or be drafted for nine months, and be mustered 
into the United States service." In pursuance of this vote the town 
paid as bounties to thirty tnen, between the first of September, 1862, 
and July first, 1863, $200 each, amounting to ^6,000. Most of 
-these men enlisted for nine months in the 15th New Hampshire regi- 
ment; the rest in other regiments for three years. 



l862.] THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 225 

FIFTEENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT. 

This regiment was raised for nine months, under the call of Pres- 
ident Lincoln for 300,000 men for that time. It had its rendezvous 
at Concord, and was mustered into service at that place November 
12, 1862, under the command of Col. John W. Kingman of Dur- 
ham. It left Concord the next day for New Orleans, and afterwards 
served, its time with the union army in Louisiana. The regiment 
reached New Orleans on Christmas day, and was engaged in garri- 
son and guard duty near that city till about the 3oth of May, 1863, 
many of the men in the meantime having suffered much from the 
diseases of the climate. About the last of May, it was ordered, 
with other regiments, to Port Hudson, and shared in the sanguinary 
but finally successful siege of that place, which ended in its uncon- 
ditional surrender on the 9th of July following. At the expiration 
of its term of service the regiment returned to Concord, and was 
mustered out on the 13th of August. In company E of this regi- 
ment, commanded by Capt. William E. Stearns of Manchester, and 
of which Francis A. Wood of Hollis was 2d Lieutenant, were 
twenty-two Hollis soldiers, enlisted between October 9 and Novem- 
ber 2, 1862, all of whom, with the exception of John C. Smith, 
returned and were mustered out with the regiment. The names of 
these men are presented in the following list : 

Adams, Charles F. Hayden, Samuel F. Smith, John C. Died of disease 
Annis, George H. Hull, George S. at Hollis, August, lo, 1863- 
Chamberlain, Caleb W. Patch, Granville P. Tenney, George F. 
Colburn, Ai Pond, Aaron Vandyke, Isaac 
Hamblet, Charles S. Pond, Frank E. Willoby, Harvey M. 
Hanscom, Alfred A. Portwine, Rufus Willoby, Oliver H. 
Hardy, Isaac Rideout, David J. AVood, Francis A., 2d Lieu- 
Hardy, John H. Smith, Freeman H. tenant. 

OTHER HOLLIS SOLDIERS ENLISTED IN 1 862. 

Cameron, Henry G. Enlisted company I, 13th regiment, September 20, 1S62. Promoted 

to Sergeant. Discharged for disability at Falmouth, Virginia, January 14, 1863. 
Chickering, Frank N. Enlisted company B, 2d regiment Aug 21, 1S62. Promoted to Sergeant. 

Wounded June 3, 1S64. Mustered out June 9, 1865. 
Jaquith, John G. Enlisted company H, 7th regiment, March 14, rS62. Mustered out, April 

ai, 1S65. 
Roby, David T. Enlisted company I, 13th regiment, September 20, 1S62. Wounded Septeni. 

bcr 30, 1864. Mustered out June 21, 1S65. 
Smithwick, Peter. Enlisted company E, 13th regiment, September 26, 1S62. Transferred to 

Veteran Reserve Corps, March 31, 1864. 
Sullivan, Joseph. Enlisted company B, 10th regiment, August 25, 1862. Mustered out May 

16, 1S65. 
Woods, John L. Enlisted August 31, 1S62, company B, 2d regiment. Discharged for disabil 

itv June 23, 1S63. , 

(15) 



326 THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. [1S63 

MOLLIS SOLDIERS ENLISTED AND DRAFTED IN 1863. 

Baker, Patrick. Enlisted December 7, 1863, company 11, 7th regiment. Mustered out July 

ao, 1865. 
Buss, Joseph. Enlisted December 7, 1863, company A, 12th regiment. Died of disease at 

Fort Munroe, Virginia, October 13, 1S64. 
Bills, Jason W. Enlisted August 14, 1863, company A, heavy Artillery. Mustered out Sep- 
tember II, 1865. 
Hale, Charles A. Enlisted May 18, 1863, company H, 7th regiment. Wounded July i8, 1863 1 

at Fort Wagner. May 10, 1864, at Drury's Bluff, Virginia. June 16, 1864, at Bermuda 

Hundred, Virginia. Mustered out July 20, 1865. 
Hall, Harvey M. Enlisted November 4, 1S63, company C, 9th regiment. Died of disease at 

Washington, D. C, September i, 1864. 
Kendall, Hiram R. Drafted September i, 1S63, company G, 8th regiment. Died of disease at 

Natchez, Miss., November 3, 1864. 

In the month of July 1863, ten .soldiers were lacking to fill the 
Hollis quota, and for want of voluntary enli.stments, ten of the 
Hollis enrolled men were drafted, all of whom, with the exception 
of Hiram R. Kendall, above named, furnished non-resident substi- 
tutes at an average cost of about $500, of which the town paid 
$300 as a bounty; the town at a meeting September 3, 1863, 
having voted to pay that .sum as a bounty to every drafted man of 
the town or his substitute, after having licen for ten days mustered 
into the United vStates .service. 

In October of this A'ear a further call was made upon the town 
for fourteen men to fill its quota, twelve of whom, (all non-resi- 
dents) were engaged by the Selectmen, and who were paid boun- 
ties bv the town averaging about $235 each, in addition to a 
State bount\- of $300. Patrick Baker and Joseph Buss, two resident 
volunteer citizens, made up the tnimlK-r then called for, each of 
whom was paid a bounty by the town of $300 in addition to that 
paid by the State. 

HOLLIS SOLDIERS FURNISHED IN 1 864. 

Three veteran Hollis soldiers, whose terms of service were aliout 
to expire, rc-enlisted under a call made by the President in Feb- 
ruary of this year, viz., John F. kJoynton. John A. Coburn and 
Stephen II. Price, all of whom were mustered out in July 1S65. 
The town's cjuota being still deficient, about the first of March 1864, 
six other Hollis enrolled men were drafted, each of whom, at the 
cost to himself of about $315, furnished a non-resident substitute — 
these substitutes being also paid a bounty by the town of $300 each. 

At a town meeting held June ii, of this year, Enoch Farley, 
Esq., one of the Selectmen for 1864. was appointed sole a^ent in 



i86i to 1S65.] soldiers' aid society. 227 

behalf of the town to engage men to fill all future calls. After- 
wards, about the middle of July, a further requisition was made upon 
the town for twenty-eight additional men who were enlisted for 
three years. Only three residents of Hollis enlisted under this call, 
viz., Charles S. Hamblet, September 6, 1864, in the heavy artil- 
lery, and Aaron Pond, September 26, and Charles F. Chase, Dec. 
28, 1864, in the Veteran Reserve Corps. These were the last resi- 
dents of Hollis who enlisted in this war. The remaining twenty- 
five of the twenty-eight, all non-residents and most of them aliens, 
were engaged by the agent of the town, the whole twenty-eight 
being paid bounties averaging to each about $680, including the 
bounty paid by the State and that of $300 paid by the town. 

soldiers furnished in 1865. 

At a meeting held on the 5th of January of this year, the town 
" voted to pay a bounty of $300 to any enrolled man of the town, 
or citizen of the town who would himself enlist or furnish a sub- 
stitute to fill the quota of the town in anticipation of future calls 
to the amount of the town's quota for 500,000 men in addition to 
the present call for 300,000." 

In pursuance of this vote, sixteen enrolled citizens of the town 
engaged substitutes at the average cost of about $816 each, of a\ liich 
sum the town paid as a bounty, $300, and the State also $300. In 
the foregoing recitals I have purposely omitted the names of all the 
non-resident substitutes who were engaged during the last years of 
this war. I am glad to be able to say that none of them were citi- 
zens or residents of Hollis. With but few exceptions they were all 
aliens, belonging mainly to that class of worthless vagabonds, 
known at the time as "Bounty Jumpers," of no service in the army .^ 
a curse to the country, and a reproach to human natanc. 

THE HOLLIS SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY. 

The history of Hollis in the war of the Rebellion would be ini- 
pardonably incomplete should it fail to tell of the patient, faithful 
and fruitful labors of the Hollis ladies. Like their grandmothers 
in the war of the Revolution, they were at all times mindful of their 
fathers, sons and brothers in the field, camp and hospital, and not 
forgetful of those of them in the rebel prisons. In the year 1861. 
near the beginning of the war, a Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society was 
organized, and continued in active and successful operation till its 
close. 



338 soldiers' aid society. [i86i to 1S65. 

The president of this society was Mrs. Taylor G. Worcester — 
its Treasurer, ]VIi"s. Pliny B. Day — and its Directors in different 
vears, Mrs. James Ball, Mrs. Cyrus Burge, Mrs. Levi Abbot, Mrs. 
William P. Saunderson, Mrs John S. He3wood. and Misses 
Roxana Read, Elizabeth Fletcher, and Martha Worcester. 

It had a numerous membership, but unfortunately for the histori- 
cal chronicler, it preserved no written record of its members nor of 
its very liberal contributions in various ways to the needs and com- 
forts of the men in the army. A better and more fitting record of 
their good works than that kept in day books and ledgers still 
exists in the hearts and memories of the grateful recipients of tlicir 
bounty. 

Besides the work done for the soldiers, liy these ladies at their 
own homes, thcv continued to meet during the war on the afternoon 
of the first Tuesday of each month (and at times much oftener) to 
fashion, make and provide articles of necessity and comfort, such 
as lint, bandages, comfortable clothing and bedding, canned fruits, 
wines, etc., for the sick and wounded in the hospitals, and neces- 
saries for the use, convenience and health of the men in the field 
and camp, and al^>o for the relief of such of them as were doomed 
to pine and sulVer in the infamous rebel prisons. The value of these 
o-ood deeds and kind offices is not to be estimated in '' greenbacks " 
or o-olcl. Still, Rev. Dr. Day in his anniversary New Years' ser- 
mons during the war. as well as before and after it, was accustomed 
to present a statement of the amount of the contributions of the 
peo]:)le of his society to the various benevolent enterprises of the 
time, including with the rest during the war the estimated ap- 
praised value in money of the yearly contributions of the Ladies' 
Soldiers' Aid .Societv to the comforts and wants of the men in the 

army. 

Unfortunatelv these ainuial sermons of Dr. Day during the war, 
with but one or two exceptions, cannot now be found. But the true 
estimated monev value of these contributions for the four years of 
the war may be proximately gathered from his annual sermon, still 
preserved, delivered in January 1S64, from which it appears that 
these benefactions for the soldiers and freedmen for the year 1S63 
were appraised in cash, at somewhat more than v$ 1,500, and it may 
be added, that it is believed, by the late officers and members of 
the society most conversant with its doings, that the entire cash 
value of its contributions during the war, including the money 
donated by its members, was not less than $4,000. 







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THOSE THAT FELL 



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X.AHLWIEL LTANTilC.HT 



1 873-] soldiers' monument. 229 

the mollis post of the grand army, 

The JoiLN II. Worcester Post of the Grand Army, having 
twenty-six members, was organized April i, 1875. The officers 
of the Post then chosen were Capt. John A. Coburn, Commander, 
Francis Lovejoy, Senior vice Commander, Charles H. Worcester, 
Junior vice Commander, and Daniel W. Ilayden, Adjutant. 

the soldiers' MONUMENT. 

Not very long after the end of the war of the Rebellion, the ques- 
tion was brought before the people of the town of providing some 
suitable monument in honor of Ihe Hollis soldiers whose lives 
had been sacrificed in the service of the country in the war to save 
the nation, and also in that in which its independence was won. 
The interest felt in this subject shortly afterwards led to a volun- 
tary subscription for this purpose on the part of the citizens of near 
$800, and finally resulted in a vote of the town at its annual meet- 
ing in March 1872, to raise by tax a sum not exceeding $2,500, for 
the erection of a monument in memory of the IloUis soldiers, who 
perished " in the war of the Revolution, in that of 181 2, and in 
the war of the Rebellion." At the same meeting a committee, 
consisting of Dea. Noah Farley, Capt. John A. Coburn, George H. 
Bartemus, Henry G. Cameron, Isaac Vandyke, Levi Abbot, Charles 
F. Chase, William E. Howe, and Nathaniel L. Truell, was ap- 
pointed to locate and contract for the monument. 

The action of this committee, in July following, resulted in the 
selection of the site for the monument where it now stands, on the 
Hollis common, about five rods south of the meeting-house, and 
afterwards in making a contract for its erection, with Moses Davis 
of Nashua as architect and builder, in accordance with a plan made 
by him and approved by the committee. 

This monument as it now stands is of the best Concord granite, 
of four equal sides, all smoothly cut or polished, and its several 
parts all artistically and symmetrically proportioned to each other. 
Including its base, die and shaft, it is 22 1-2 feet in height, six feet 
square at its foundation, its diameter gradually growing less from 
its base to the vertex. On the east side of the die are inscribed the 
names of eighteen Hollis soldiers lost in the Rebellion. Uj^on its 
west side are the words, •' In honor of the Hollis soldiers who fell 
in the wars of i775 '^^^^ '" 1S12." The names of tliose lost in the 
Revolution were not inscribed upon the monument at the time it 



230 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

was erected, for the reason that the committee had not then suc- 
ceeded in obtaining a complete list of them. But from careful in- 
vestigation since made, it is believed that this list is now full, as 
presented on page 201 of this history, and there seems no longer 
sufficient reason for further delay in the inscription of their names 
on the monument, as originally designed. 

The entire cost of this monument, including the foundation and 
curbing, was $3120.77, of which sum $790.37 were paid by private 
subscription of the citizens, and the balance $1330.40, by the town. 

The dedication took place at the Hollis meeting-house, on the 
afternoon of Decoration day, (May 30) 1873, the graves of the fallen 
soldiers having been first strewed with flowers, by the comrades now 
belonging to the (Hollis) John H. Worcester Post of the Grand 
Army, and the pulpit and windows of the church beautifully gar- 
landed with bouquets. The exercises consisted, first of music by 
the Hollis Brass Band, next of singing by choirs of children, then 
prayer by Rev. Mr. Laird, followed by patriotic songs and hymns 
by the Hollis church choir. The dedicatory address was delivered 
l>y Rev. Charles Wetherby of Nashua, in which he paid an elo- 
quent and just tribute to the early settlers of Hollis, especially to 
the virtues, courage and patriotism of the Revolutionary fathers of 
the town, and to the Hollis soldiers in the war of the Rebellion, 
whose liravery antl good conduct had proved them worth}' descend- 
ants of their Revolutionary ancestors — not forgetting to commend 
the liberal and grateful spirit of the people of the town as mani- 
fested in the erection of so chaste, appropriate and durable a mon- 
ument to perpetuate to future generations the memory and names of 
their fellow townsmen who had thus given their lives for their 
country. 

AMES, CAPT. NATHAN M. 
(ByJ.H. H.) 

was the only son of William Ames, Esq., and Lydia (Merrill) 
Ames, and was born in Hollis June 4, 1827. Capt. Ames settled 
in Hollis as a farmer and continued in that business till the breaking 
out of the civil war in 1861. Naturally vigorous and active, he 
manifested great energy in all enterprises he undertook, and was 
earnestly engaged in the promotion of the agricultural interests of 
the town. 

At the age of eighteen, he held a position in the staff of the 
brigade with which he was connected in the militia of the State, 




^-tryr'i'-y c^^j I 



^-y 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 23 I 

and in i860 he organized a temporary militia company in Hollis, 
called the Hollis Phalanx^ of which he was first Lieutenant. This 
company attended the Muster of that year at Nashua, and won 
great praise for its soldierly appearance and discipline. Many of 
the members of this company formed the nucleus of the organiza- 
tions that enlisted from Hollis in the civil war that soon followed. 

When the war broke out Capt, Ames at once^begun the labor of 
recruiting a company for the service. His original purpose was to 
have his company mustered into the Fifth New Hampshire Regi- 
ment of infantry. But the ranks of that regiment having been filled, 
before his company was complete, he concluded to have it united 
with the Seventh New Hampshire infantry. 

He was with his regiment during most of its period of service till 
its discharge. In 1863, for a short time, he was Provost Marshal 
at Fernandina, Florida, and in the summer of 1864116 was appointed 
Chief of Ambulance in the Tenth Army Corps, at Bermuda 
Hundied, Va. While in this position he was assigned to a place 
on the staff' of Gen. Birney. 

At the expiration of the time for which his company had enlisted,' 
he returned with it to New Hampshire, and resumed his former 
occupation on his farm in Hollis. In 1870 he removed from Hollis 
to Vineland, N. J., where he bought a farm and engaged in the 
cultivation of fruits for the Philadelphia market. Although he 
made this change for the reason that from his experience of army 
life at the South, he believed that the climate of New Jersey would 
be better adapted to his health than that of New Hampshire, yet 
earlv in 1872, he was attacked with bronchial consumption of 
which he died September 5, 1873, ast. 45. Captain Ames was 
married June 20, 1848, to Miss Asenath Hardy, of Hollis, who now 
survives, and by whom he had three children, who survived him at 
his decease. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father, 
and at all times, in whatever position in life he was placed, he was 
ever ready to do his duty conscientiously, faithfully and promptly. 

WORCESTEK, LIEUT. JOHN U. 

son of John N. and Sarah (Holden) Worcester, was born in Hollis, 
January 18, 1839. ^" ^^'-^ boyhood he attended the public schools 
in Hollis, and afterwards had the benefit of a good academic educa- 
tion. Before the Southern Rebellion he had been a student at the 
law school at Cambridge, and at the commencement of the civil 



232 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

war he was nearly ready to engage in the practice of his intended 
profession with flattering prospects of success. But when the nation 
summoned its young men to its defence, his love of country and 
stern sense of duty found from him a prompt response. 

In the summer of 1861, he enlisted as a private soldier in Com- 
pany H, of the Seventh New Hampshire regiment, and upon its 
organization was chosen Second Lieutenant of his company. In 
June, 1862, upon the resignation of the First Lieutenant, (Potter,) 
Lieutenant Worcester was promoted to his place, and was after- 
wards constantly in the service with his regiment, in Florida and 
South Carolina, till his decease at Hilton Head, S. C, July 26, 
1S63, ict. 24 years and 6 months. 

The vSeventh regiment was present and took part in the fearful 
and bloody assault upon Fort Wagner, S. C, on the evening of 
July 18, 1863. Lieutenant Worcester having succeeded, at the 
head of his men, in gaining the top of the parapet of the Fort, 
while cheering them on, was severely wounded in his left leg, so 
that when the order to retreat was given, he was unable to leave the 
field. Having remained all night on the battle ground, he was 
taken prisoner, the next morning, carried into Charleston, his leg 
amputated, and on the 25th he was returned under a flag of truce, 
sent to Hilton Head and put on board a vessel to be sent north with 
other wounded men. But the following night the gangrene struck 
his limb, and before morning he breathed his last. When he found 
he could not live, he calmly resigned himself to his fate, and said to 
a wounded comrade lying at his side, " Give my love to my wtv;, 
and say to them that I shall be ivith them no more^ and tell my 
friends at home all you knozu of me." His remains were buried 
at Hilton Head, under a military escort, and afterwards disinterred, 
taken to Hollis and buried in the family cemetery. 

In a tribute to his memory on the occasion of his funeral at Hollis, 
Rev. Dr. Day said of him, •' Lieutenant Worcester was just the man 
the country wanted. Firm in his convictions, active and forcible, 
he was a right arm of strength in her service. Nature had fitted him 
for a popular and successful ofhcer. His form was large and com- 
manding. He had a happy faculty of mingling with his men freely 
and sociallv. and yet maintaining a complete command of them. 
It was a command, not common in the army — that of respect and 
love. He endeavored to make the most of his men by increasing 
their virtues. His covmsel and example were always against the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 233 

use of intoxicating drinks, tobacco, profanity and gambling, and he 
knew how to urge his views upon others without giving offence." 

Dr. Boynton, the regimental Surgeon, wrote of him, " No officer 
in the regiment was before Lieutenant Worcester in promise. He 
was a general favorite with officers and men, and no one whose lot 
it was to fall on that fatal night was more universally lamented." 
Lieutenant Potter, to whose place Lieutenant Worcester was pro- 
moted, in a short obituary notice says of him : " Lieutenant 
Worcester in the discharge of every duty was faithful and persever- 
ing. No effort was too great for him if he could benefit the condi- 
tion of a private soldier or sei've a friend. Such honesty — such 
fidelity — such energy and such kindness won for him the highest 
esteem of all who knew him. His character was unexceptionable 
— his habits strictly temperate — his principles unwavering. His 
service short, faithful and earnest, is ended. But his example still 
lives, and will be felt so long as a remnant of his company shall 
survive." 

The John H. Worcester Post of the Grand Army, composed 
of his sui"viving comrades in the war, in and about Hollis, was so 
named, on its organization, from an affectionate aud respectful 
regard for his memory. 

FARLEY, LIEUT. CHARLES H. 

son of Dea. Leonard W. and Clarissa (Butterfield) Farley, was born 
in Hollis July 31, 1835, ^"'^^ *^^'^^^ ^^ Lake City, Florida, February 
24, 1864, Eet. 28 years and six months. Calmly weighing the con- 
sequences, and acting from .1 deep sense of duty, he was among the 
first of the young men of Hollis to enlist in the service of his coun- 
try. Early in the fall of 1861 he volunteered as a private soldier in 
the 7th New Hampshire regiment, and on the organization of Com- 
pany H he was appointed Orderly Sergeant. June 30, 1862, he was 
promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, and to ist Lieutenant August 6, 1863. 
He faithfully served with his regiment in Florida and South Carolina 
through the years 1862 and 1863, and till mortally wounded at the 
battle of Olustee, Florida, February 20, 1864. 

Lieut. Farley was one of the gallant band who fought their way 
into Fort Wagner on the night of July 18, 1863. Wading the ditch 
and scaling the parapet under a raking fire of the enemy, he stood 
by the side of the brave and lamented Col. Putnam, when he fell, 
fighting the enemy hand to hand with his revolver. He was twice 



234 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

struck with balls, one passing through his clothes, without serious 
injury, the other warded off by the testament in his pocket which 
probably saved his life. He remained till the fall of Col. Putnam 
and the retreat ordered. 

The battle of Olustee commenced on the afternoon of February 
30, and Lieutenant Farley was mortally wounded in the first part of 
it. The Union troops were soon driven from the part of the field 
where he fell, and he was taken prisoner, and carried by the enemy 
to Lake City, about twenty miles distant. He was found the next 
day in a confederate hospital by two ladies formerly from New 
Hampshire, taken to their own home and kindly cared for by them, 
and also by the rebel Surgeon. But all eflbrts to save his life were 
unavailing, and he expired four days after the battle. His funeral 
was attended by the Mayor of Lake City, his remains kindly in- 
terred in the public burial ground, and afterwards removed for 
burial at HoUis in the family burial lot. Rev. Dr. Day in a tribute 
to his memory, delivered at his funeral at Hollis, says of Lieutenant 
Farley, *■' That at the early age of sixteen he made a public profes- 
sion of religion and united with the Baptist church in Hollis, and 
ever after till his death lived a consistent Christian life. He never 
fell into any of the vices so common in the camp, never resorted to 
the gaming table, to the intoxicating cup nor to the fumes of the 
poisonous weed. As an officer he was a universal favorite. The 
soldiers knew him so well, that for him to indicate his wishes, was 
authority. He never threatened, censured harshly nor spoke 
defiantly. His courage was never doubted, and no one ever saw 
him agitated, hurried or disconcerted on the eve of battle. He was 
calm, self-possessed and trustful in that Providence in which he had 
been taught to believe,, and which was a cardinal point in his 
religious faith." 



BCCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 235 



CHAPTER XXII. 

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY. MEMBERSHIP. 

MINISTERS. MR. EMERSON, MR. SMITH, MR. PERRY, MR. AIKEN, 

MR. GORDON, DR. DAY, MR. LAIRD, MR. KELSEY, MR. SCOTT. 

DEACONS. YOUNG MEN's ASSOCIATION. THIRD MEETING- 
HOUSE. PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY. BENEVOLENT ASSOCIA- 
TION. FEMALE CHARITABLE SOCIETY. BAPTIST SOCIETY. 

In a former chapter I have spoken of the efforts of the first set- 
tlers of Hollis, while yet a parish, in providing for the support of 
the ministry — of the building of their first and second meeting- 
houses — of the call and settlement of Rev. Daniel Emerson, the 
first and only minister of the church for some more than fifty years 
— of his character, public spirit, the high esteem in which he was 
held, and his favorable influence in the town through all its early 
history. 

There is now to be found no existing record of the original forma- 
tion of his church, and the well authenticated facts in respect to its 
history for the first fifty years of its existence are but few. As Mr. 
Emerson was ordained April 20, 1743, it is supposed that the 
church was organized either at that time, or but a short time before. 
It is stated in a short historical manual of the church published in 
1871, that its first sacrament or communion service, was celebrated 
June 5, 1743. It appears from the church records, that on the 31st 
of July, 1745' i^ church covenant then '■' rencxved'' and adopted, 
was signed by ten persons, besides the pastor, that number proba- 
bly including all its male members at that date, viz. 

Daniel Emerson, JerahmacI Cumings, Natlianiel Blood, 

John Boyiiton, Benjamin Blanchard, Joseph Fletciier 

Henry Barton, Elias Smith, Jonathan Danforth. 

Samuel Brown, Enoch Hunt, 

It is shown by the same original records that on the 25th of De- 
cember, 1745, William Cumings and Thomas Patch were chosen 



336 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



its first deacons, and that February 17, 1747, Francis Worcester, 
Jun., was chosen the third deacon. 

As no confession of faith is mentioned or referred to in the 
records previously to i794i it is supposed that none was formally 
adopted before that time. A Creed or Confessioti of Faith 
adopted in that year, and the covenant in previous use, were revised 
in 1 83 1, and continued without change, (as is stated in the church 
manual), till 1871, when they were revised and adopted as they 
now are. 

It is said also in the same manual, that for the first fifty years, no 
records were kept of the members admitted to the church, but that 
incidental statements show "that from the beginning, it enjoyed the 
labors of a faithful and successful ministry." In 1755, during the 
last French and Indian war, Mr. Emerson asked permission of his 
church to be absent for a time, as chaplain to the regiment of Col. 
Joseph Blanchard in the expedition of the army to Crown Point. 
In a meeting of the church to consider the request, it appears that 
forty-seven members voted, a number nearly equal to one-half of the 
tax payers at that time, the latter numbering that year but one Inm- 
dred and seven. 

The following names of members of the church, copied from this 
manual, are found on the Ilollis tax lists, as resident tax payers be- 
fore the war of the Revolution, viz., 



Benjamin Abbot, 
John Ahvell, 
Henry Barton, 
Benjamin Blanchard, 
Nathaniel Blood, 
John Boynton, 
Josiah Brown, 
Samuel Brown, 
Ephraim Burge, 
Robert Colburn, 
William Colburn, 
Josiah Conant, 
Jerahraael Cumings, 
John Cumings, 
Samuel Cumings, 
William Cumings, 
Jonathan Danfortli, 



Thomas Dinsmore, 
Zedekiah Drury, 
Amos Eastman, 
Daniel Emerson, Jun., 
Benjamin Farley, 
Samuel Farley, 
Amos Fisk, 
Eleazer Flagg, 
Samuel Goodhue, 
John Goss, 
John Hale, 
Phineas Hardy, 
David Hobart, 
Samuel Hobart, 
Enoch Hunt, 
Stephen Jewett, 
Ebenezer Jewett, 



Abraham Lecman, 
Samuel Leeman, 
Jonathan Lovejoy, 
William Nevins, 
Enoch Noyes, 
Thomas Patch, 
Peter Powers, 
Moses Proctor, 
William Shattuck, 
Zachariah Shattuck, 
Elias Smith, 
Jonathan Taylor, 
Nathaniel Townscncl, 
John Willoughby, 
Francis Worcester, 
Noah Worcester, 
Benjamin Wright. 



At the close of JMr. Emerson's active ministry, in 1793, the resi- 
dent members of the church numbered about two hundred. 

Rev. Dr. Davis, in his Centennial address before the HoUis as- 
sociation of ministers in September, 1862, after short biographical 
sketches of some other of the early members of that association, in 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. . 237 

speaking of Mr. Emerson, says of him, " Of tVie Rev. Daniel Em- 
son of HoUis we have more distinct notions derived from sketches 
furnished by his distinguislied grandsons. He was a man of 
large and active intellect, a convert of Whitefield, and partaking 
largely of his spirit, he wa? uniformly evangelical, 'and often a very 
eloquent preacher. His chief excellencies in preaching were sound 
doctrine, deep feeling and zeal at times almost overwhelming. His 
labors were by no means confined to the pulpit. He was interested 
in public affairs, serving as chaplain in the army^and accompanying 
it to Crown Point.* An able counsellor, he was often called from 
home to aid feeble churches. Interested in the cause of ministerial 
education, and inuch blessed with revivals of religion, among his 
own people, he animated a large number of young men to become 
preachers of the gospel. Very assiduous in his attendance on the 
meetings of this association, he manifested an energy like that of 
Baxter, whom in person he was said to resemble. From his talents 
and position the Hollis minister was for man}^ years a leading mind 
in the association." 

In, another connection I have spoken of the interest Mr. Emerson 
manifested in the cavise of popular education and of the indebtedness 
of the youth of Hollis to him on that account. 

Upon the monument erected over his grave in the Hollis central 
burial ground is inscribed the following epitaph : 

" Beneath this Monument lies the Mortal part ot 

Rev. Daniel Emerson. 

He was born at Reading, Mass., May 20, 1716. ' 

Graduated at Ilan'ard University, 1739 

And was ordained April 20, 1743 to the Pastoral care 

Of the Church and Congregation in Hollis 

Which then consisted of only 30 Families. 

He was an honest man, given to Hospitality; 

An affectionate Husband and tender Parent; 

A faithful Friend and Patriotic Citizen; 

An Evangelical, zealous and unusually successful Preacher 

Of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Highly Esteemed by his people, his praise was in all the Churche=;. 

A. D. 1793, he voluntarily relinquished one-half his Salary 

To promote the settlement of a Colleague, 

From which time his pious walk and occasional labors 

Evinced an unabating love for the cause of Christ, 

Until natui-e failed and he fell asleep in Jesus, 

September 30, iSoi, aged 85 years. 

*When at Crown Point it is said of him that when the men of his regiment Were ordered to 
present their arms for inspection, Mr. Emerson presented his Bible to the inspecting officer 3.S 
his weapon. 



238 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

Upon the same monument is also inscribed the following epitaph 
in memory of his beloved and venerated consort. 

"Here are also deposited the remains of 

Hannah Emerson, wife of the above and 

Daughter of Rev. Joseph Emerson of Maiden. 

She lived a pattern of filial obedience, respect and affection, 

And an example of conjugal love and duty; 

A most tender, indulgent and faithful Parent, 

The delight of her Friends and ornament of the Church ; 

She lived the life of a true Disciple of Christ, 

In the constant exercise of active faith in His promises. 

And died is triumphant hope of everlasting life in tliose 

Regions where Charity never faileth, 

February 38, i8i3, aged go." 

Mr. Emerson and Mrs. Emerson were the parents of thirteen 
children — seven sons and six daughters. Two of the sons, Joseph 
and Samuel, were graduates of Harvard College. {</. 7<.) Hannah 
Emer.son, the oldest daughter, married Manasseh Smith of Hollis. 
three of whose sons were al.so graduates of Harvard College. (^. v.) 

SMITH, REV. ELI 

second minister. On the 27th of November. 1793. Rev. Eli .Smith 
was settled as colleague pastor of the Hollis church with Rev. Mr. 
Emerson. Mr. .Smith was born at Belcliertown, Mass., September 
17, 17^9, and was a graduate of Brown University in 1792. 

Rev. Dr. Dav in a biographical sketch of Mr. .Smith, wiitten for 
the '' History of the New Hampshire Churches."" .says of him : 
" That he was a man of strong natural talents, a firm and energetic 
defender of the trutli and a successful pastor. During his pastorate 
of a little more than thirtv-seven years, between four and five hun- 
dred persons were admitted to t!ie church. ■■■ * * The great 
revival of his ministry was in tlie years iSoi and 1802. At thai 
time one liundred and torty-two new members were united to the 
church. In iSii there was another re^•i\■al when thirty or fort\ 
persons were added to the chiu'ch. In iSi7there was still another, 
of which about hftv more were mmde subjects. Mr. Smith was 
dismissed, (at his own request.) in February. 1S31. and died in 
Hollis, May 11, 1S47." 

Mr. Smith, like his predecessor. Mr. Emerson, was an active and 
zealous friend of the public schools, and such was the interest he 
took in them, that some vears after his settlement, the town mani- 
fested its appreciation of his services by a cordial vote of thanks. 
From 1S06 to 1S30, inclusive, he was annually elected chairman of 
the school committee, a position lie coi'itinued to fill with much 




t^{i 



^- 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 239 

fidelity and advantage to the schools. He was settled upon an 
annual salary of £90 and twenty cords of wood, which is not known 
to have been materially changed during his pastorate. 

The following epitaph is inscribed upon his monument in the 
central burial ground. 

" Rev. Eli Smith. 

Born September 17, 1759. Graduated, 1793. Ordained, 1793. 

Was Pastor of the Church in Hollis 37 years. 

Died May 11, 1S47. 

Mr. Smith was distinguished for energy and decision of character, 

for piety, faithfulness and success in his ministry." 

Mr. Smith was twice married. His only son by Catharine Shel- 
don, his first wife, was Rev. Eli Smith, Jun., a graduate of Dart- 
mouth college, (</. v.). By his second wife, Ama Emerson, 
daughter of Dea. Daniel Emerson, he had six children — four sons 
and two daughters. The oldest of these died in childhood. Lu- 
ther, the third son, was a graduate of Brown University, (^. v.). 
Joseph E., the fourth, settled in Hollis, as a farmer, upon the pater- 
nal homestead, who, beside being elected many times to important 
town offices, was chosen representative to the New Hampshire 
General Court in 1S38 and 1839. John R., the youngest son, 
studied medicine, and settled in his profession in Missouri. Ama, 
the oldest daughter, married Rev. Noah Emerson, of Baldwin, Me. ; 
the youngest, Catharine H., Rev. Darwin Adams of Camden, Me. 

PERRY, REV. DAVID 

the third minister of this society, was born at Worcester. Mass., 
July 26, 1798, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1834, at the The- 
ological Seminary at Andover in 1837, and was ordained at Cam- 
bridgeport, Mass., May, 1828. He was dismissed at Cambridgeport, 
afterwards installed as ];astor of the church in Hollis. February 23, 
1831. and dismissed, at his own request, June 13. 1S43, after a pas- 
torate of some more than ten years. During his niinistry not far 
from one hundred and fifty persons were admitted to the church by 
profession or letter.* Mr. Perry died at Wareham, Mass., Aug. 
27, 1876, set. 78. and was buried in Hollis, where he had resided 
for several years near the close of his life. 

AIKEN, REV. JAMES 

the fourth minister, was born at Goftstown, New Hampshire, Nov. 
14, 1 8 10, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1839, '^^^ ^^ Union 
Theological Seminary in 1842. Mr. Aiken was ordained as pastor 

*New Hampshire Churches, p. iS6. 



240 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

of the church and society in Hollis, August 30, 1843, ^^^ retained 
his office as pastor near five years, in which time about sixty mem- 
bers were added to the church. Dismissed July 3, 1848.* 

GORDON, REV. MATTHEW D. 

fifth minister, was born at Bhxntyre, Scothmd, Dec. 10, 1S12. He 
came to this country with his parents in 181 7, graduated at Middle- 
bury College in 1S40, and at Union Theological Seminary in 1846. 
March 21, 1849, he was ordained as pastor of the church at Hollis, 
as successor of Rev. Mr. Aiken, and dismissed in consequence of 
ill health June 7, 1852. Died at Hoosic Falls, N. Y., August 21, 
1853, set. 40. 

DAV, D. D., REV. PLINY BUTTS 

sixth minister was born at Huntington, Mass., April 21, 1806, 
graduated at Amherst college in 1S34, and at the Theological Semi- 
nary at Andover in 1837. ^^'- Day was ordained as pastor of 
the church at Derry, N. H., Oct. 4, 1837, dismissed at Derry in 
1851, and installed as pastor of the church and society in H-ollis, 
July 7- 1853. He received the honorary degree of d. d. from Dart- 
mouth college in 1864, of which institution he was a trustee for 
several yeai"s previous to his death. Died at Hollis July 6, 1869. 
let. 63. The annual salary of the three ministers next preceding 
Dr. Day was $600. That of Dr. Day was at first $700. but after- 
wards increased to $1000. 

The esteem in which Dr. Day was held by his brethren in the 
ministry, and also by the people of Hollis, is well expressed in the 
follow^ing resolution of the Hollis Association of ministers, adopted 
August 2, 1869, at its first meeting after his decease. 

'' Resolved that while we humbly submit to the Divine Provi- 
dence that has thus removed our greatly esteemed and beloved 
brother, we feel deeply pained and bereft at his departure. Rev. 
Dr. Day we received as a true. Christian gentleman ; courteous, 
amiable, possessed of superior mental endowments, judiciovis, wise ; 
his mind well trained and furnished with extensive, varied and 
useful knowledge ; a sound theologian, an able sermonizer ; an 
e '.rnest, impressive preacher ; a faithful teacher, pastor and spiritual 
Christian; and an eminently discreet and useful minister of Jesus 
Christ. 

*Nl-vv H;imp ;hire Churches, p. i86. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 24! 

We record our deep conviction of the loss sustained in his death by 
this Association — bv the church and people of which he w'as so long 
pastor and teacher — h\ the Congregational churches throughout the 
State ; — by our State college of which he was an esteemed trustee ; 
— by the interests of education generally — of patriotism — of Christian 
benevolence — of sound morals — and of philanthropy." 

The published writings of Dr. Day are Letters frovi Eiiropc^ 
1851 ; T1V0 Sernioiis, the Sabbath after his installation, 1853 ; 
Ne~v Year's Address^ 1S54; Sermons: at the funeral of Benjamin 
F'. Nichols, 1854; at the funeral of John H. Cutter, i860; Farc- 
ivell to Soldiers. 1861 ; in memory of John H. Worcester, 1864; 

Victory a?/d its Daz/g'ers. 186^ : in memory of Abraham Lin- 
coln, 1865 ; at the funeral of Benjamin M. Farley, 1865. Dr. Day 
was also a valued contributor to the Coiigregatiotialist and Con- 
gregational yourjial. 

LAIKD, KEV. JAMES 

sevcntli minister, was born at Huntingdon, Canada East, Septem- 
ber 4. 1833. Fitted for college at Monson, Mass. Entered Amherst 
College in' 1857? P'lssed the first two years of his college course at 
Amherst, the last two at Oberlin College, Ohio, at which he gradu- 
ated in 1861. He afterwards entered the Theological Seminary at 
Andover. Graduated at And()\er in 1864. Was ordained as pastor 
of the Congregational church at Guildhall, Vt., March 11^, 1866; 
dismissed at Guildhall and afterwards installed as pastor of the 
church at Hollis, May 25, 1870. Died at Hollis after a long and 
lingering sickness, May 25. 1870. iet. 36. The animal salary of 
Mr. Laird was $1,350. 

KELSEV, REV. HIRAM L. 

eighth minister, was born at Wheelock, Vt., August 31. 183s. 
Graduated at the Wesleyan University, Middletown. Conn., 1861. 
Was ordained as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
April 16, 1865. Mr. Kelsey was installed as pastor of the church 
and society at Hollis, June i, 1875. and dismissed, (at his own re- 
quest,) March I, 1878. About two months after his dismissal at 
Hollis he was installed as pastor of a Congregitional church at 
Brockton, Mass., where he now resides. 

Annual salary of Mr. Kelsey at Hollis. $1,500 and use of the 
parsonage. 

(16) 



242 



DEACONS OF THE CONGREGATION AE CHURCH. 



SCOTT, REV. D. B. 



from Milton, N. H., in the foil of 1S78, was engaged as minister of 
the society for one year and is now the acting pastor of the church. 



DEACONS OF THE HOLLIS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 



William Cuniings, 
Thomas Patch, 
Francis Worcester, 
Enoch Noyes, 
John Boynton, 
Stephen Jewett, 
Daniel Emerson, Jun., 
Josiah Conant, 
Abel Conant, 
Ephraim Burgc, 
Thomas Farley, 
Stephen Jewett, Jun., 
Benoni Cutter, 
Enos Hardy, 
Phillips Wood, 
William Emerson, 
Isaac F'arley, 
John B. Hardy, 
Rev. Leonard Jewett, 
Rev. James D. Hills. 
Noah Farley, 
Enoch J. Colburn, 
Perry M. Farley, 
George M. Bradley, 



sen 174s, 
'745. 
1747. 
'75". 
'755. 
'770, 
1775, 
■787. 
17S7. 
1S03, 
1S03, 
iSoS, 
iSia, 
I Si 6, 
1S20, 
1S32, 
1S32, 
183S, 
1846, 

'SS7. 
1S60, 
1S63, 
'S7S. 
'S75. 



led .Septembe 


'■ 9. 


iSsS, 


aged 46 ye; 


May 


I, 


'754. 


" 40 


' October 


19, 


iSoo, 


" 70 


' .September, 


,7./,, 


" So 


October 


M, 


17S7, 


" 67 


May 


^3. 


1S03, 


75 


October 


4. 


1S20, 


" 74 


•' .Vugust 


21, 


1S07, 


" 01 


' May 


2, 


.S44. 


" SS 


March 


3' 


1S43. 


" 7S 


March 


17, 


1S32, 


'• 03 


' February 


22, 


1 820, 


75 


■' January 


17. 


I Si 6, 


" 44 


May 


:S, 


ISS7. 


" S5 


" January 


14. 


1858, 


•• 76 


" December 


3, 


'S73. 


" $2 


" F"ebruary 


^5, 


1S74. 


" 90 



" p'ebruary i6, 1S02, 



.\pril 



4, 1S70, 



76 



the hollis young men s christian association of i he last 

c?:ntury. 

I think it pertinent to the History of the society and church, and 
as some evidence of the moral and religious training and culture of 
the youth of Ilollis one hundred years and more ago, to present in 
this connection the following articles of association signed by nearly 
one hundred of them. The document was preserved among the pa- 
pers of Miss Mary S. Farley, the generous benefactor of the Hollis 
High .School, and whose grandfather, Christopher Farley, was a 
member of the association. There is no date upon the paper, but 
the fact that two members of the association, whose names were 
signed to it, were killed at Bunker Hill, June 17, 177S1 'Hitl o'le ot 
them at Cambridge two days after, is conclusive evidence that the 
association was organized before that time. 

It may interest some persons who belong to the ToiDigMen' s 
Christian Associations of the present day to know that the like 
associations existed in New Hampsliire three generations ago, and 



YOUNG men's association. 245 

also to learn in what manner they were organized and comUicted. 
They niay also have some curiosity to know somewhat of the 
qualijications iox membership in this ancient association — of the 
duties of its members to each other, as well as to the community at 
large — of its rtiles for the admission or expulsion of disorderly or 
unworthy members — and of the trust and confidence reposed by 
these young men in the pastor and deacons of the church, in making 
them the final arbiters in all matters that might disturb their 
harmony. . 

••THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION." 

••Hoping that we are disposed b\- the infiuence of the spirit of 
God to seek those things which are above and made in some measure 
sensible of the dangei of bad compan}- by which many ha\e fallen 
into temptation and the snare of the devil, and calling to mind 
that we are given up to God in holy baptism, as well as desiring to 
remember our Creator in the days of our 3{)uth and become the 
unfeigned servants of the Lord Christ, we determine to associate 
in the following manner, viz. : 

1st. We will endeavor to spend aliout two hours every Sabbath 
evening in praying, reading and singing in the ensuing order, first 
asking God's presence and blessing, then reading a portion of sacred 
Scripture, then each one praying in his turn beginning with the 
oldest, then sing part of a psalm or h}mn, then read a sermon or a 
part of some profitable book, then another prayer, then sing, then 
ask a question in the Assembly's Catechism to everv member bv the 
person \\ ho prayed last. 

3nd. By Christ strengthening us we will watch over each other 
with a spirit of love and concern — not divulging one another's 
infirmities but lovingly inform them of wiiat we shall know or hear 
to be a fault — nor will w'e manifest ourselves offended when we are 
charitably reproved, although the reproof be not administered iiT 
such manner as we should wish, but endeavor immediate- 
reformation. 

3d. If any of our members shall fall into scandalous sin we will 
admonish and suspend him for a longer or shorter time, according to 
the natvne of the offence, nor will we receive him again without 
visible tokens of repentance and reformation. 

4th. We will spend the evening of the fourth Lord's day in every 
other month in pra3ier for the increase of the kingdom of our 



244 VOUXG MEN S ASSOCIATIOX. 

blessed Lord and Saviour through the world, especially for the con- 
version of the yoinig people where we li\ e. and invite one or two 
brethren of the church to join with and lead us on said e\enings 
when these articles shall be audibly read. 

^th. If am' member shall absent himself for more than two eve- 
nings successively without known reason we will send one or twt) 
to enquire, and if no answer be given, but such as discovers apos- 
tac\ — without reformation, in one moiitli his name shall lie exposed 
before the society. 

6th. Anv one who is desirous of joining w itli us shall be pio- 
poimded In one t)f the members, one evening beforehand, and if 
allowed shall present himself the next. when, hearing our articles, if 
he pleases to sign them, it shall be his admission into oiu" nmnber. 

yth. We will cheerfidK contrilnite each of our parts towanls tlie 
necessar\" expenses of the society. 

Sth. If there arises an\ diihcult\ between an\ of us which we 
cannot heal among oursehes we will submit the whole alVair to our 
Rev. Pastor antl deacons of the church for the time being, and their 
judgment shall l)e the final issue of the diihculty." 

There \\ ere appended to the foregoing articles the names of 
ninet\-four \()uths and voung men. all supposed to have been resi- 
dents of IloUis. and most of them sons of the earh settlers of the 
town. So far as can now be learnetl, the two \()imgest of the mem- 
bers were Ralph Emerson, a son of the minister, and Jesse 
Worcester, a son of Noah Worcester, each of whom in June, 177^' 
was in his fifteenth year. Among the oldest, were Daniel Emerson, 
Jun.. who was a Captain in the war. and Nathan Blood, who was a 
Sergeant in the llollis company at Bunker Hill, each of whom was 
then in his twenty-ninth year. Forty-eight, or more than one-half 
•of the members of this fraternity were soldiers in that war. the most 
of them having been in the service the first year oi' it. The names 
of these soldiers are presented in the following list, thirteen of 
whom marked thus. (*) were in the Hollis companv at Bunker 
Hill. Two of the thirteen, viz., Nathan Blood, aged twentv-eight , 
and Jacob Boynton. aged nineteen, were killed in the battle. 

Saimifl Ainhrosi', ''Kvaii Pow, *]ainc> Mc t'oiiiicr, 

John Atwell, Jun.. *Calch Eastman *VVilliani Nc\ ins, Jun., 

Andrew Bailey, Jonathan Eastman, Elijah Jsoycs, 

John Rail, *Wiiliani Elliot, Enoch Noycs, Jmi., 

Nathaniel IJall, Daniel Emerson, Jun., Thomas Patch, 

Daniel Blood, Christopher Farley, William W. T'col, 

*Nathan BliK>d. *Josiah Fisk, John PliilbricK. 




TMiin) cox(;ina;,vri()NAL \ii:i:ting iioisi: 



ucii.T i.'U) I- i:i:(()NMiii ( ri':n \Hvn. 



THIRD MEETING-HOUSK. 



345 



Benjamin Boynton, 
John Boynton, 
'Joshua Boynton, 
•Jacob Boynton, 
janies (.'olburn, 
Jotham Cumings, 
*PhiHp Cumings, 
William Cumings, 
Joshua Davis, 



Joseph French, 
Jacob Jewett, Jun., 
Jonathan Jewett, 
Noah Jewett, 
Stephen Jewett, Jun., 
Abner Keyes, 
Asa Lovejoy, 
Jonathan Lovejoy, 
Ephraim I.und, 



*Nahum Powers, 
*Thomas Pratt. 
Edward Taylor, 
Jacob Taylor, 
William Tenney, 
Amos Webster, 
*Noah Worcester, Jun. 
Jesse Worcester, 
Samuel Worcester. 



THE THIRD IIOLLIS MEETINCJ HOUSE. 

At the annual town meeting in 1799, an article was inserted in 
the warrant " 7"o sec if the tozvn would build a netv fleeting' 
House or repair the old one." At that meeting the town '' voted 
to build a new Aleeting House in three years," and chose the fol- 
lowing committee to decide where it should be placed, viz., David 
Danforth of Amherst, Jeremiah Pritchard of New Ipswich, Jacob 
Blodgett of Townsend, James l^razier of Pepperell and Frederick 
French of Dunstable. The report of this committee was soon after 
made and formally accepted. At the same meeting Emerson 
Smith, David Smith and Benjamin Wright were appointed a com* 
mittee to report a •• Plan '' for the new house, which they did the 
same season — this plan^ as appears, having been copied from that 
of the meeting-house at Billerica, which with some modifications 
was accepted and adopted. 

The foregoing proceedings seem to have contemplated that the 
new meeting-house should l)e built at the expense of the town ; but 
at a town meeting in May. iSoi, the town '• voted to proceed with 
the building provided it could be erected without a Town tax " and 
then chose a committee to devise the means to effect it. and at the 
same time to pav the owners of pews in tlie old meeting-house the 
appraised \ alue of their pews. This committee of •• ivavs and 
means''' consisted of Daniel Emerson, Esq., Noah Worcester, Jere- 
miah Ames, Daniel Emerson, 3d, William Brown, Solomon W'lieat, 
Ephraim Burge, Amos Eastman and Da^ id Smith. 

In the following September, this ct)mmittee made a report (which 
was adopted) to the effect •• that the tow n should choose a com- 
mittee to sell the pews, as described in the • plan,' reserving a min- 
isterial pew. and everv seventh pew bek)W". ant! each Hfth pew in 
the gallery, till the rest should be sold. If tiie sales should fall 
short of the cost of the house — the purchasers of the pews to make 
good the deficiencv^ — if thev shoidd exceed the cost, tlie purchasers 
to have the excess in proportion to the amounts se\eral]v paid bv 



346 THIRD MEETING-HOUSE. 

them." The committee afterwards chosen to make tliese sales con- 
sisted of Dea. Daniel Emerson, Benjamin Wright, William Ten- 
aiey, Amo.s Eastman, and William Brown. 

After the new plan was adopted, the town voted that the new 
house should be finished on or before November ist, 1803, but af- 
terwanls \ otcd to extend tlie time one year longer. At the annual 
town meeting in March, 1S04, the town instructed the building 
committee to take down the old house at the expense of the pur- 
chasers of the jiews in the new house, and also voted that the '• new 
house might be finished with a tower and steeple if it could be done 
\vithout expense to the town." The foregoing was the last town 
meeting lield in respect to the building of the third meeting-house. 
This new meeting-house (Iniilt as is supposed) substantiallv after 
the model of that at Billerica, was Hnished in the fiill of 1S04. It 
•continued to l^e occupied, as originally constructed, without mate- 
rial change outside or inside, till the vear 1S49. when its west end 
was turned around to the south — its south side to the east, and the 
whole building remodelled, renovated, and altered substantiallv to 
the condition in which it now is. 

Hundreds of people still living have a vivid remembrance of it 
as originally constructed and finished. It stood upon the same spot 
with the first meeting-house built in Ilollis more than sixty years 
before, the main building being sixty-eight feet long, east and west, 
and fifty-four feet wide north and south. It w^as two stories in 
height, well clapboarded and pairited white, with windows of 
twent\ -four panes eacli of glass, nine inches liy twelve, on its sides 
and ends, and porches on its Iwo ends and south side, with a wide 
door in each porch opening into the main building or audience 
room. The east porch was of two stories with entrance doors on 
the east and south sides, with a stairway ascending to the east or 
ivomcii' s gallery. The south porch was of but one stor}' with out- 
side doors on its east, south and west sides. The west porch was 
also of two stories, with stairs to the west or vioi s gallery, and sur- 
mounted with a belfr}-, cupola and steeple. All of the outside 
doors of the porches had well finished steps or stairways of 
hammered stone for ascent to them, and those at the east and west 
porches were each furnished at one end with a neatly finished and 
convenient horse-block of the like hammered stone. 

The pulpit stood at the middle of the north wall of the audience 
room, facing south, with stairs on each side of it, and the seats for 



THIRD MEETING-HOUSE. 247 

the four deacons, and the communion table hung on hhiges directly 
below, in front, the central broad aisle leading to it from the inside 
door of the south porch. There was in front of the deacons' seat an 
aisle extending east and west across the audience room, separating 
the north wall pews, from two ranges of long free seats for the 
aged and dcaf\ one-half of these free seats being east of the broad 
aisle, for xvo7nen — the other half west of that aisle, for men. 

The pews were six feet long, east and west, and five feet wide, 
neatly panelled and painted, the partitions between them being fin- 
ished at the top with a miniature balustrade. There were in al' 
ninety-five of them, of which sixty-eight were below and twenty- 
seven in the gallery. There was a single row of them next to the 
wall on the lower floor, with a step or stair in. front of each pew, 
all raised a foot or more above the outside aisles leading to them, 
which with the wall pews, extended around on the two sides and 
both ends of the audience room. Of these wall pews there were 
ten, (including those in the corners,) on each of the north and south 
sides of the lower floor, and six at each end. Of those on the sides 
five were on the east and five on the west side of the south door, and 
five on the right side, and five on the left of the pulpit. Of those 
iit the ends, three were on each side of the east and west doors. 

The intermediate space between the four outside aisles, (includ- 
ing the long seats for the aged.) was occupied with six rows of six 
pews each, all parallel with the broad or central aisle — there being 
three rows on each side of it — the east and west rows of the six be- 
ing separated from the others b}- a narrow alley leading from the 
south aisle to the long seats for the aged. 

The gallery, supported by round, wooden, well painted Ionic 
columns was finished in front with panel work, and a heavy cornice, 
and extended around on the south side and east and west ends of the 
audience room, with a range of pews next to the walls, eleven of 
them being on the south side and eight at each end, with aisles lead- 
ing to them. The front part of the south gallery was appropriated 
to the singers. The front part of the east gallery, not occupied by 
pews, was furnished with long, unpainted free seats for women, and 
was known as the " women's gallery." The corresponding portion 
of that on the west end was provided with the like kind of free seats 
for men and known as the '*■ men's gallery." 

The pews were all provided with panelled and painted doors 
hung on hinges, and with wide, hard uncushioned seats on the side 



^4S PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY. 

facing the pulpit, each about two feet long, and also with like seats 
in the corners, all also hung on hinges. In those times, the wor- 
shippers, as was the custom, stood during prayers. When they rose 
their seats were all lifted up and turned back against the sides of the 
pews. At the close of each prayer the " amen "" of the minister was 
the signal for carelessly dropping the seats again to their places with 
a noise and rattle not unlike a musketry salute of a raw, poorly 
drilled militia company. Some of these pews were supplied with 
flag-bottomed arm chairs for tlic grand-parents, and most f)f them 
with long, narrow "■ leaning boards," so called, to he placed lengtli- 
wise of the pews in fnMit of the occupants as they sat, upon which 
they might rest their listless heads, when their '' drowsv powers " 
"■ot the better of fheir interest in the services. The top ceiling of 
the audience room was slightly arched and painted of a light sky- 
blue, with a dark, angry, portentous thunder-cloud in its north 
west corner. With but few if any exceptions, there were no blinds 
to the windows on the outside to protect the patient audience from 
the heat and sun in summer, nor curtains nor shades on the inside — 
nor stoves nor furnaces to soften the cold of winter. The principal 
substitutes in winter for these last modern luxuries, were warm 
fur murt's and tippets for the hands, arms and necks of such of the 
gentler sex as could aftbrd them, and thick socks of fur or wool for 
the feet, but mtn-e than all the small tin hand stove with Its little 
basin of bright coals and ashes carried in the hand to the pews by 
the younger members of the family and kindly and C}uietly slipped 
around from one pair of cold feet to another. 

No sovmd of a church-going liell was ever heard from the belfry 
of this meeting-house till 1821. In that } ear a subscription was 
raised by the people of the town of near v$740 for the purchase of 
one, and a bell weighing 1263 lbs. bought and hung the same year. 
This bell proved to be of a very tine tone, but about twenty years 
aftei'wards it was unfortunately cracketl, and taken down and sold, 
and the one now in use procured by a like subscription and hung in 
its place. 

THK IIOLI.IS PIUI^AX rUlJOPIC SOCIKTV. 

On the 15th January, 1801, thirty or more of the citizens of 
llollis, interested in the maintenance of the ministry in the Con- 
gregational society, met for the purpose of devising a -'plan" for its 
permanent support without taxation. At that meeting, a preamb 



FJHLANTIIROPIC SOCIETY. 



249 



was reported, adopted and signed by them, expressive of tiieir 
wishes and purposes, a substantial copy of which with the names 
of the signers, is here presented, as foHows : 

'• Considering the gospel of Jesus Christ the sole foundation and 
source of happiness to man, * * — and that this gospel should be re- 
spectably maintained and publicly taught in such way as will most 
harmoniously tend to promote public tranquility and individual piet}', 
* * — we the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Hollis, do here- 
by associate ourselves together under the name of the '■ Hollis 
Philafit/iropic Society " for the purpose of devising, according to 
the best of our ability, some plan for the perpetual support of the 
gospel in the town in which we live, and although we dare not 
promise ourselves a speedy accomplishment of our purposes, yet we 
view it of such consequence to the well being of society that we 
deem it an object highly worthy of our attention, and that we can- 
not transmit to posterity a more valuable legacy." Signed, 



Noali Wiircestcr, 
Daniel Kmersiiii, Jan., 
Stephen Jcwett, 
Ephraini Burge, 
Nathan Colhnrn, 
Thomas Farley, 
Nathan Holt, 
Daniel Emerson, 3d, 
Solomon Wheat, 
David Smith, 
David Burge, 



John Ball, 
Henoni Cutter, 
Wilder Chamberlain, 
Jesse Hardy, 
Jesse Worcester, 
Daniel Lawrence, 
James Bradbury, 
William Merril!, 
Josiah Conant, Jun., 
William Brown, 
David Hale, 



William Tenney, 
Benjamin Wright, 
David Ilolden, 
Amos Eastman, Jun. 
Reuben Flagg, 
Eli Smith, 
William Ferguson, 
Aaron Bailey, 
Samuel Smith, 
Enos Hardy, 
Timothy Lawrence. 



At that meeting a committee, consisting of Daniel Emerson, 3d. 
Noah Worcester, Jesse Worcester, Stephen Jewett, and Ephraim 
Burge, was appointed to prepare and report a plan and rides for 
carrying into effect the objects of the association. These proceed- 
ings, with the report of this committee finally resulted in procuring 
from the General Court an Act of Incorporation, authorizing the 
association to raise funds by donation and contri]:)ution. the income 
of which (as contemplated) might permanently support the minis- 
try in this church and societv. The association began its operations 
for the objects proposed the same year, and has continued in exis- 
tence, under its original and amended charters, from that time to the 
present. 

The original charter provided that when the funds of this asso- 
ciation should reach the sum of v$7,ooo, five-sixths of its income 
should be paid to the Selectmen of Hollis for the time being for the 
support of the gospel in this church and society. In 1S31. tlie 



350 , BEXEVOLEXT ASSOCIATION. 

original charter was altered, authorizing the association, when its 
funds should amount to $3,500. to pay to the standing committee of 
that society twelve-thirteenths of its yearly income. In the year 
1S32 the invested funds of the association, having increased to 
$3,536, the association that year paid $200 of its income for the 
support of the ministry in that society, and continued to pay the 
like Sinn yearly till 1S49, — from 1S49 to 1S54, $250 per year. 
Since 1S54, t^^^ average annual amount so paid has been near $26'j. 
It appears from the annual report of the association, made in Jan- 
uary 1S78. that its permanent fund, including interest, had increased 
to $5,703.95. 

THE IIOLLIS BEXE\"OLEXT ASSOCIATIOX. 

If the amoimt of tlie contributions in money of the Congrega- 
tional society in Hollis in aid of the various charitable and reli- 
gious enterprises of the day does not equal that of some other 
larger and more wealthy societies in the comity, still it is believed 
that in this respect its good name will not sutler in comparison with 
most of them. In January. 1S36. a charitable organization was 
formed, composed of its leading members, which then adopted the 
name, and has since been known, as the •• Hollis Benevolent As- 
sociation.''' It appears from the written Constitution of this asso- 
ciation, that it was one of its main purposes, by means of a single 
organization, in place of several, to furnish material aid to each of 
the charitable religious enterprises of the day, in which the members 
of this association felt interested. These enterprises included the 
Bible Society. Foreign and Domestic Missions, the Tract. Educa- 
tion, and vSabbath .School Societies. It is shown by the accoimts of 
its doings, kept in the records of this association, that the amount 
in money contributed to its objects for the first six years of its exis- 
tence, was $3,644. being at the rate of $607 per year. It also ap- 
pears that tlie amount raised bv it from 1S53, ^^ 1869, (being six- 
teen years of the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Dav) was very nearly equal 
to an annual average of $500. and making an aggregate of $7,794. 

THE HOLLIS FEMALE READIXG AND CHARirABLE SOCIETY. 

This association composed of ladies belonging to the Congrega- 
tional church and society was formed in the year 1829, and has been 
in active operation from that year to the present. It appears from 
its Constitution, then adopted, that its leading objects were the pro- 



FEMALE CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION. 251 

promotion of social intercourse, mental culture and improvement, 
and active and worthy charities. Its regular meetings were to be 
held during the entire 3"car on the first Thursday afternoon of eacli 
month, and while listening to some usefid and instructive reading 
by one of its members, the time of the rest was to be occupied 
in working for some object of beneficence to ])e approved by a 
majority of them. 

The records of the doings (.>( this societ\' have been, from \ear to 
year, neatly written out and kept for near half a century. One of 
the primarv olijects of its charities seems to have been to aid tlie un- 
fortunate, deserving poor at home. Init the amount of its benefactions 
bestowed in this wav docs not appear in its records, nor in the early 
years of its existence was the animal report of its treasurer recorded 
at all. vStill, though the record of its good works is thus incomplete, 
yet it is shown by the report for 1S7S of its present secretary, Mrs. 
Jefferson Farle}-. that it appears from these records that more than 
$1,000 have been received by the societv. mainlv from self-imposed 
taxes and fees for membership. Aside from its home charities and 
work, the objects of the bounty of the association have been many 
and various, including in them. Home and Foreign Missions and 
Missionaries, the Seaman's Friends' Society, the Home of the 
Friendless in New York citv. and the New Hampshire Orphan's 
Asylum, at Franklin. As the fruits of the labors and beneficence of 
these busy and faithful workers, boxes filled with clothing, bedding, 
and other valuable articles for household use have been made by 
them and from year to year forwarded to their destination in aid of 
the charitable enterprises above named, of the aggregate appraised 
value of $3,305. 

THE HOLLIS BAPTIST SOCIETY. 

It appears from the published minutes of the 15oston and New 
Hampshire Baptist Association, that a Baptist church existed in 
Hollis as early as 1791. and that in the years iSio and iSii it num- 
bered forty-nine members, but I do not find that the society then had 
either minister or meeting-house. As those " minutes" contain no 
report of an)- Baptist church in Hollis between 181 1 and 1836 it is to 
be presumed that the church first formed, was dissolved soon after 
181 1. But it is within the recollection of many persons now living, 
that between the years 1816 and 1823, Rev. Benjamin Paul, a very 
worthy colored Baptist minister, had charge of a small Baptist 



252 BAPTIST SOCIETY. 

society composed of members living in part in the east part of 
Hollis and partly in Dunstable. No record of this society is known 
to exist and it is supposed also to have been dissolved. 

After 1823 no Baptist st)ciety is known to ha\e l)een formed in 
Hollis till March 31. 1S36, when a ne^v society of that denomina- 
tion was organized, and the following officers then chosen, viz., 
William N. Bradstreet and Amos Ilagget, Directors ; William F. 
Burrows, Clerk : William N. Bradstreet, Treasiu'er, and Asa 
Jacjuith, Collector. The church was formed June 6, 1837, then 
consisting of twent\-eight members, and took the name of the 
•' First Baptist Church in Hollis." The Deacons of the church 
at that time chosen were Abraham Temple Hardy and Amos 
Hagget. In April 1841, on the removal of Dea. Hardy from the 
town, Dea. Leonard W. Farlev was electetl in his place. The 
church from the time of its formation continued to increase, from 
year to year, till September 1S43, when it consisted of one hundred 
members, with a .Sal^bath school of one hundred and twentv pupils. 
After 1843, its numbers gradually diminished. The clergymen who 
have acted as pastors of the church have officiated in the following 
order : Rc\ . Phineas Richardson, Rev. Daniel P. Deming, Rev. 
H. W. Dalton, Rev. Bartlett Pease and Rev. George B. Bills. In 
the year 1S3S this society built a con^■enient and substantial meet- 
ing-house, on the east side of the Hollis common. \\ ith Hftv pews, 
and at a cost of $2,000. 

Rev. Mr. Richardson is saiil to ha\ e begun to preach in Hollis 
the year before this societv was formetl, and was a popular, faithfid 
and successfid pastor of the church for al>out twelve \ears. He was 
l)orn in Methuen, Mass., February 2. 1787- ="''<^1 "^vas self educated, 
with the exception of studying for a few months with Rev. Dr. 
Chaplin of Danvers. He was ordained to the work of the ministry 
at Methuen. in 1S17. anti was for some years afterwards employed 
as an evangelist, but for eighteen years next pre\ ious to his coming 
to Hollis he was pastor of the Baptist church in (7ilmant(jn, N. IL 
Mr. Richardson resigned hispastt,)rate in Hollis on accoiuit of feeble 
health and removed to Lawrence, Alass. His last pastorate of four 
years was at New Hampton, N. H. Died at Lawrence. January 
25, i860, in his 83d \ear. 

Mr. Richardson was succeeded in the pastorate at Hollis by Rev. 
Air. Deming who supplied the pulpit for about six years, till the 
year 18=54, ^vhen he removed to (jotfstown. and was pastoi" of the 



BAPTIST SOCTETV. 253 

Baptist church at Goftstown for the next four years. Upon liis re- 
moval from Goftstown he became the pastor of the Baptist church at 
Cornish, N. II. for the next seven years. Mr. Deming (1S79) "*^^'^ 
resides in Phiinfield, N. H. He vv^as succeeded in Hollis by Rev. 
Mr. Dalton, who officiated as pastor for about two years, and upon 
his removal the church was supplied for a short time by Rev. Mr. 
Pease, who was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Bills, the last minister 
of the society, for about a year. For the last sixteen years, the 
church has had no minister or stated preaching, and in the year 
1869, in pursuance of a vote of tlie society, the meeting-house, l)uilt 
in 1838, was sold, taken down and removed to Nashua. 



254 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

PARISH OFFICERS OF WEST DUNSTABLE FROM I 739, TO 1746. 

OFFICERS OF THE DISTRICT OF DUNSTABLE PROM 1 742 TO 

1746. FULL LISTS OF THE TOWN OFFICERS OF HOLLIS FOR 

THE FIRST AND THIRD YEARS. MODERATORS OF THE ANNUAL 

TOWN MEETINGS. TOWN CLERKS. — TREASURERS AND SELECT- 

ISIEN FROM 1746 TO 1 878. 

PARISH OFFICERS OF WEST DUNSTABLE. 

I^/rst Jl lectio II yainiary 2. jyjg-40. O. S. 

Abraham Ta^'lor, Modci-ator. Ste])lien llariis, Treasiirer. 

Abraham Taylor, Assessor. Benjamin Farley, Auditor. 

Peter Powers, " Moses Proctor, " 

Benjamin Farley, " Abraham Taylor, Com. to run Parish li:)e>. 

Moses Proctor, Collector. Peter Powers, " " " 

Thomas Dinsmore, Collector non-resiilent Thomas Dinsmore, " " " 

Taxes. 

.Scco//d Election, MarcJi^ 1740-1, O. S. 

Peter Powers, Moderator. . Thomas Dinsmore, Treasurer. 

Abraham Taj'lor, Clerk. Stephen Harris, Parish Committee, 

Benjamin Farley, Assessor. Thomas Dinsmore, " " 

Willam Colburn, " Peter Powers, " " 

Jeralimael Cumintfs, '• Da\ id Ne%ins, Collector. 

Third Election. March ./, IJ42-J., O. S. 

Abraham Taylor, Moderator. Pllea/.er Flag-g, Assessor. 

Abraham Taylor, Clerk. Enoch Hunt, " 

Peter Powers, Collector. Jonathan Danforth " 

Abraham Taylor, Assessor. Thomas Patch, " 

Fourth Eiectioi/, March, iy4J-4, O. S. 

Samuel Cumings, Moderator. Jonathan Danforth, Assessor. 

John Boynton, Clerk. Jerahm.ael Cumings, Treasurer. 

John Boynton, Assessor. .Sephen Harris, Collector. 

.Samuel Cumings, " Henry Barton, " 



DISTRICT AND TOWN OFFICERS. 255 

Fifth Election, MarcJi 12, 77^^-5, O. S. 

Samuel Brown, Moderator. John Boynton, Clerk. 

John Boynton, Assessor. Elias Smith, Treasurer. 

Thomas Patch, " Josiah Blood, Collector. 

Jerahmael Cuinings, " Stephen Ames, " 

OFFICERS OF THE DISTRICT OF DUNSTABLE, FROM 1 743 TO 1 746. 

The district of Dunstal^le, as we have stated, (pp. 44, 45, ante.) 
was organized by tlie New Hampshire General Court in March, 1742, 
tor the purpose of assessing and collecting province taxes, and com- 
prised all the territory afterwards embraced in the towns of Dun- 
stable, Hollis, Merrimack and Monson, as chartered in April, 1746. 
The meetings for the choice of district officers appear to have been 
held, alternately, in the East Parish of Dunstable, and at the old or 
Hrst meeting-house in West Dunstable. The district officers chosen 
at these meetings were, a Moderator, Clerk, Assessors and Collec- 
tors, and w^ere about equally divided in respect to residence, between 
the East and West Parishes. Of the officers named in the lists 
below, Blanchard, Harwood, Lovewell, Lund and Parker lived in 
the East Parish, and Boynton, the two Cumings, Hunt, Proctor, 
Smith and Taylor in West Dunstable, now Hollis. 

First District Election^ April 2J, ^742. 

Joseph Blanchard, Moderator. Abraham Taylor, Assessor. 

Abraham Taylor, Clerk. Thomas Harwood, '< 

Enoch Hunt, Collector. Samuel Cumings, " 

Henry Parker, " Jonathan Lovewell, " 

Second Election^ September 18, J 744. 

Joseph Blanchard, Moderator. John Boynton, Assessor. 

John Boynton, Clerk. Jonathan Lovewell, " 

Jerahmael Cumings, " 

Third Election^ September ig, ^745- 

Elias Smith, Moderator. John Boynton, Assessor. 

John Boynton, Clerk. Jonathan Lovewell, " 

Moses Proctor, Collector. •• Jerahmael Cumings, " 

Jonathan Lund, " 

The charter of Hollis as a town, as we ha\e seen, was dated 
April 3, 1746, and the town officers chosen at the tiist and second 
town elections, are presented in the lists below. 

First Town Election, April 28^ ^7\^- 

Samuel Cumings, Moderator. Thomas Dinsmore, Surveyor of Highways. 

Samuel Cumings, Clerk. Francis Phelps, " <• 

Samuel Cumings, Selectman. Nicholas French, " ■■ 

Benjamin Farley, " James Mc Daniels, '" •• 



256 DISTRICT AND TOWN OFFICERS. 

Fniiicis Worcester, Selectman. Samuel Parker, Surveyor of Ilig-liways. 

Elias Smith, Constable. Nicholas French, Hog- Reeve. 

James Stewart, Tithing man. William Adams, " 

Christo|)her Lovejoy, " Elias Smith, Pound Keeper. 

Jonathan Danforth, Fence \'iewer. Elias Smith, Sealer of Weiglits and Mc-isures. 

Benjamin Blanchard, " Samuel Brown, Sealer of Leather. 

y^Jiird Tov:ii Electio>i^ March 7, iJi^S. 

Samuel Cumings, Moderator and Clerk. Josiah IMood, Fence Viewer. 

F'rancis Worcester, Treasurer. Josiah Brown, " •' 

Samuel Cumings, Selectman, Samuel Farley, Field Driver. 

Benjamin Farley, " Wm. Blanchard, " " 

Samuel Brown, " Wm. Shattuck, " " 

Stephen Ames, " Zedekiah Drury, Surveyor of Highways. 

Elias Smith, " p-rancis Phelps, " " " 

Benjamin Blanchard, Constable. Benj. Blanchard, Jr., " " " 

Josiah Conant, Tithing Man. James McDonald, " " " 

Nathaniel Blood, " " Nathaniel Blood, " " " 

Nicholas French, Hog Reeve. Sam'l Brown, Sealer of Weights and Measure.^ 

D.ivid Nevins, " " William Tenney, Sealer of Leather, 

Z'jrubbabel Kemp, " " Zedekiah Drury, Deer Reeve, 

Elias Smith, Pound Keeper. Samuel Farley, " " 

Such as shown in the preceding list.s were the town officers, 
chosen at the annual March meetings in HolH.s, in most years, from 
1746 till the war of the Revolution and for some years afterwards. 
Under the Province laws in force before the Revolution, the number 
of wSelectmen. as has been before said, might vary in different years, 
a town being at lilierty at its annual meeting to choose either three, 
five, seven or nine of these officers as might be decided at the time, 
by vote of the town. Before the Revolution the nimiber of Select- 
men annualK' chosen in Hollis was cither three or five, each of 
these numbers having been elected about an equal number of times. 

The following lists present the names of the persons who have 
held the several offices of Moderat(jr of the aiuiual town meetings, 
Town Clerk. Treasurer and Selectmen from the year 1746 to 1S7S 
with the years in whicli they were respectively chosen. 

.MODERATORS Ol' THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETINGS. 

Samuel Cumings, 174<>. '47, "4S, '40 and "55. Jonathan Danforth, 17S9. 

Francis Worcester, 1750, '51, "5-> 'S.5' ',S4' '5^' '^JO, Reuben Dow, 1791. 

'62, '63, '64 and '68. Daniel Emerson, 1798, iSoi, '02, '03, '04, an.i 
Samuel Goodhue, 1756 and '57. 'ori. 

lohn Hale, 1761, '65, '(36, '67, '60, '70, '71, '72 and Amos Eastman, 1S05 and 1S06. 

'82. Samson Powers, 1807. 

William Nevins, 177;; and 1774. Benjamin W. Parker, 1808. 

Benjamin Abbot, 1759. Stephen Jewett, Jun., i8ioand iSii. 

Stephen Jewett, 1776. Josepli F. Eastman, 1812, '13, '14, '15, '17, 't'i, 
E'loch Noyes, 1777, '7S, and '79. '19 '22, '23, '25, '26, '29, '30, '31 and 1834. 

John Boynton, i7Soand 'Si. Ambrose Gould, 1816. 

Noah Worcester, 1783, '84, '85, '86, 'S7, "88, '90, Benjamin M. Farley, 1S20, '24, '38 and 1S39. 

'93, '93, '94, "95, '96, '97, '99 and iSoo. Jonathan B. Eastman, 1S21. 



MODERATORS AND TOWN CI.ERKS. 



-?57 



William Emerson, 1827 and 1828. 

Benjamin Pool, 1832, '33. 

Ralph E. Tenney, 183S to 1837, 'S40 to 1S44, 

'46, 'SI, '52. 
StillmanSpauIding, 184S, 184710 1853, '56, 1861, 

to 1S64, '69, '71, '72, '74, '75, '77, '78. 



Reuben Baldwin, 1854. 

Ambrose II. Wood, 1855- 

Luther Proctor, 1S57 to i860, '67, '70, '73. 

Timothy E. Flagg, 1S65, '66, '76. 

Nathan M. Ames, 1868. 



TOWN CLERKS FROM 1 746 TO 1 878, 



Samuel Cumings, 1746 to 1770, except 1753, 

'54, and '66. 
Samuel Goodhue, 1753, '54. 
John Hale, 1766. 

William Cumings, 1771, '72, and 17S2 to 17SS. 
Samuel Cumings, Jun., 1773, '74. 
Noah Worcester, 1775 to 1779. 
Daniel Emerson, 17S0, 17S1. 
Solomon ^Vheat, 17S9 to 1793, iSoo, iSoi, and 

1809 to 1816, except 1812 and 1S13. 
Jesse Worcester, 1799. 
Daniel Emerson, Jun., 1S02 to iSoj. 
Amos Eastman, 1S06.. 
Benjamin Pool, 1S07, 180S. 
Ambrose Gould, 1812, 1813. 
Christopher P. Farley, 1S17 to 1819. 
Benjamin M. Farley, 1820 to 1S23. 



AVilliam Ames, 1S23, '24. 

Jonathan T. Wright, 1825 to '29. 

Noah Hardy, 1830, 1831. 

Joi^eph E. Smith, 1832, '33, '42, '46, '47, and 

1854 to '59. 
Moses Proctor, 1834, '35- 

William P. Hale, 1S36, '37, '39, '40, '41, 'JO, 'Ji. 
Edward Emerson, 1S3S and 1S52. 
Reuben Baldwin, 1843 to '45, '61, '62. 
JohnCoburn, 1848. 
William P. Saundcrson, 1849. 
Luther Proctor, 1S53 and '60. 
William A. Trow, 1863 to '65. 
Ebenezer T. Wheeler, 1S66 to '70. 
Isaac Hardy, 1S71 to '74. 
George A. Burge, 1875 to '78. 



TOWN TREASURERS FROM 1 746 TO 1878. 



John Boynton, 1746, '47. 
Francis Worcester, 174S to 1767. 
Samuel Cumings, 1768 to 1770. 
Noah Worcester, 1771 to 1773. 
Daniel Emerson, 1774 to 1779, '1 
Josiah Conant, 17S0. 
Solomon Rogers, 1781 to 1785. 
Christopher Farley, 1786 to 1788. 
Benjamin Wright, 1789 to 1797 

1806. 
Peleg Lawrence, 1S06 to 1S08. 
Joseph F. Eastman, 1800 to 1817. 



Josiah Conant, 1818 to 1S30. 
Benjamin Farley, 1831 to 1849, except 1833. 
Moses Proctor, 1S33. 
Ebenezer Baldwin, 1S50, '51, '52, '53. 
'98, 99. Joseph Gates, 1854. 

Christopher F. Smith, 1855. 
David W. Sawtell, 1856 to 1S60. 
Edward Hardy, 1861 to 1S64. 
and 1800 to Charles B. Richardson, 1865 to 1874. 
Henry N. Smith, 1875. 
George A. Burge, 1S76. 
Silas M. Spaulding, 1877, '78. 



SELECTMEN FROM 1 746 TO 1 878. 



Samuel Cumings, 1746 to 1770, except 1753, 

1754 and 1766. 
Benjamin Farley, 1746, '47, and 1748. 
Francis Worcester, 1746, '47, '48, '62, '63 and 

■765- 
Stephen Ames, 1747, '48, '62, '67, '73, '75, '76, 

•77, and 1779. 
Nathaniel Townsend, 1747 and '52. 
Samuel Brown, 1748. 
Elias Smith, 174S. 
Enoch Hunt, 1749. 
Joshua Wright, 1749 and 1767. 
Moses Proctor, 1749. 

Enoch Noyes, 1749, 1751 to 1754, 1756 to 1760, 
.778. 

(17) 



'7S6- 



Samuel Goodhue, 1750, '51, '53, '54, and 

Benjamin Blanchard, 1750 and 1754. 

Zachariah Lawrence, 1754 and 1757. 

John Cumings, 1751. 

Josiah Conant, 175 1 and 1755. 

Benjamin Abbot, 1732, '53, '54, '59, '60, and 

1 761. 
John Boynton, 1758, '61, '62, '66, '68, '80, and 

.781. 
John Hale, 1761, '64, and 1766. 

Abel Webster, 1761. 

Stephen Webster, 1762, '63 and 1765. 

Samuel Hobart, 1764 and 1766. 

.Stephen Jewett, 1766. 
Jonas Flagg, 1766. 



258 



SELECTMEN. 



Caleb Farley, xy&j. 
Jonathan Philbrick, 1767 and 1768. 
Noah Worcester, 1769, '75, '76, '77, '78 and '79. 
Reuben Dow, 1769, '70, '7S and 178S. 
William Tcnney, 1769. 
James Jewctt, I7'i9. 

William Brown, 1771, '72, '05, and 1796. 
William Pool, 1771. 
Ebenezer Kendall, 1771, '72. 
William Cumings, I77i,'72, and 17S2 to 17SS. 
William Nevins, 1771 and 1772. 
Samuel Cumings, Jun., 1773 and 1774. 
Jacob Jewctt, Jun., 1773, '75. '76. 
Nathaniel Ball, 1773. 

Klnathan Blood, 1773. \ 

Amos Eastman, 1772. 
Leonard Whiting, 1774. 
John Goss, 1774, '80, '85, '86, 'S7, '88. 
Daniel Kendrick, 1775, '76 and 1777. 
Oliver Lawrence, 1775, '76 and 1770- 
Daniel Emerson, 17S0, '81. 
Jonathan ¥ox, 17S0 and 17S1. 
William Read, 1780. 
Solomon Wardwell, 17S2 'S3. 
Ebenezer Jewett, 17S2, '83, '84. 
Jereniiali Pritchard, 1784. 
Jeremiah Ames, 1785, '86. 
Thaddeus Wheeler, 1787, '8y, '90, 1806, "07 and 

iSoS. 
Nathan Colburn, 17S9, '<>o, '91, '93, "94, and "97. 
Jonas Willouglihy, 17S9. 
Solomon Wheat, 1789 to 179S, iSoo, '01, '09. '10, 

'i I, '14. '15 and '16. 
Jonathan Danforth. 17S9. 
William Tcnney, Jun., 1791, '92. "93. "94. "98. 

'99 and iSoo. 
Ephraim Burge, 1795 and 1796. 
Jesse Worcester, 1797, '99 and 1800. 
Benjamin Wright, 179S, '99. 
Benjamin Pool, iSoi to iSoS, 1833, "34. 
Stephen Dow, iSoi. 
Daniel Bailey, iSn>. '03, '04. "05. '09, 'ici. '11. 

'12, and 1S13. 
Amos Eastman, Jun., iHi/i. 
Samson Powers, 1S07 and iSoS. 
Enos Hardy, 1809, '10, '12 and 1S19. 
David Hale, iSi i. 
Ambrose Gould, 1812 and 1S13. 
Jonathan Saunderson, 1SJ3, '14, 'ij, 'i6and '17. 
Benjamin M. Farley, 1S15, '16, "17, '18, '20, 

'21, '23, '25, '26, '27, '28, and '29. 
Christopher P. Farley, 1814, '17, '18, and '19. 
Kathaniel Jewctt, 1S18. 
Jonathan T. Whcckr, 1S19, '20 and '21. 
Wii;iam Ames, 1820, '21, '22, '23 and '24. 
Ralph W. Jewctt, 1S22. 
Thomas Cumings, 1823 and 1S24. 
Jonathan T. Wright, 1823 to 1829 and 1835. 
WilliamEmerson, 1825. 



Ralph E. Tcnney, 1826, '27, "28. '30, '31, 3a. 

Benjamin F'arley, 1829. 

Noah Hardy, 1830 and '31. 

William Hale, 1830, '31, '32. 

Joseph E. Smith, 1S32, '33, '42, "46, '47. ijid 

1854 to 1859. 
William Merrill, 1S33 and '34. 
Moses Proctor, 1834 and '35. 
Leonard F'arley, 1835, '36, '39. 
William P. Hale, 1836, '37, '39, "40, "41, "50, '51. 
Almon D. Marshall, 1S36, '37. 
Phillips Wood, 1837, '38- 
John N. Worcester, 1S38. 
Edward Emerson, 1838 and '52. 
Ezekiel M. Bradley, 1839, '40. 
James Wheeler, 1S40, "41. 
Samuel Little, 1841, '43. 
John Farley, 1842, '43. 
Reuben Baldwin, 1S43, '44, '45. '61, 'Oj. 
John L. Pool, 1843 to '46. 
Wm. P. Saunderson, 1S47. 49- 
Amos Hardy, 1844, '45, "46. 
Thomas Brown, 1847. 
John Coburn, 1S4S. 
David J. Wright, 184S, '49. 
Wm. N. Tcnney, 184S, '49. 

Luther Proctor, 1850, '51, '52. 53, "60, '70, 'yi- 
Neheniiah Boutwell, i8w. 
Noah Johnson, iSsi. 
Nathan M. Ames, 1S52, '53, "54, '65. 
Stillman Spaulding, 1S53. 
James W. Wheeler, 1854, '56, '57. 
Dexter Greenwood, 1S55. 
Daniel Bailev, 1S55. 
Warner Read, 1856, '57. 
Edward Hardy, 1S5S, '59. 
Ebenezer T. Wheeler, 185S. 
Joseph D. Parker, 1S59, '<»• 
David M. Farley, iS6<5. 
John Mooar, 1861. 
Jefferson Farley, 1S61, '62. 
Enoch F'arley, 1862, '63, '64. 
Wm. A. Trow, 1863, '64. 
Oliver P. Eastman, 1863, '64. 
Charles A. Read, 1865, '(36, '67. 
Francis A. Wood, 1S65. 
Enoch J. Colburn, 1866. 
John Woods, 1S66 to '69. 
Frederick A. Wood, 1S67 to '69. 
Charles \1. Worcester, 1S68. 
George Moore, 1S69, '70. 
Daniel M. Smith, 1870, '71. 
George A. Burgc, 1871 to '73. 
Silas ]SL Spaulding, 1872 to '7c;> 
James E. Hills, 1872 to 1S75. 
Adkins J. Turner, 1S74, '75. 
Timothy E. F'lagg, 1S76 to '78. 
John A. Cobu n, 1876 to '78. 
Charles W. Hardy, 187O to '78. 



POLITICAL HISTORY- 259 



C H A P 1' E R X X I V . 

REPRESENTATIVES AND DELEGATES TO THE GENERAL COURT, 

ETC., FROM 1739 TO 1S78. VOTES FOR STATE PRESIDENT FROM 

1784 TO 1792. — VOTES FOR GOVERNOR FROM 1 792 TO 1 878. 

DELEGATES. 

1739. Abraham Taylor and Peter Powers, delegates ol' the settlers 
in West Dunstable to the Massachusetts General Courtupon 
their petition for a Charter. 

1744, James Stewart, delegate of the inhabitants of West Dunstable 
to the New Hampshire General Court, to present their peti- 
tion for Garrisons and Soldiers for protection against the 
Indians. 

1746. Stephen Ames, delegate of the settlers in the west part of 

Hollis to the New Hampshire General Court, upon their 
petition for a committee to locate the new Meeting House. 

1747. Samuel Cumings, delegate of the town to the New Hamp- 

shire General Court, upon its petition for an act for taxing 
the /and of non-residents for the support of the ministry, 
and also upon the petition of the town for seonts for frotec- 
tiofi against the Indians. 

REPRESEXTAri\'KS TO THE GENERAL COURT BEFOKK ITIK 
REVOLUTION. 

1762 to 1768, Dr. John Hale, Representative to the New Hamp- 
shire General Court, six years, from 1762 to 176S. 

1768 to 1774, Col. Samuel Hobart, Representative to the New 
Hampshire General Court, six years, from 176S to 1774. 

REPRESENTATIVES AND DELEGATES TO THE GENERAL COURT. 
CONVENTIONS, ETC., DURING THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 

1774, Stephen Ames, Reuben Dow and Stephen Jewett, delegates, 
to the First County Congress, at Amherst. Nov. 8, i774- 



z6o KEPRESENTATIVES AND DELEGATES. 

1775, Stephen Jevvett and Enoch Noyes, delegates to the Second 
County Congress, held April 5, i775- 
William Nevins, Jeremiah Ames and Samuel Farley, dele- 
gates to the Third County Congress at Amherst, held May 

2h 1775- 
Col. John Hale, delegate to the Provincial Convention at 

Exeter, January 35, 1775, to consult in respect to a Con- 
tinental Congress. 

Col. John Hale, Representative to the General Court at 
Portsmouth, February 23, 1775. 

Col. Samuel Hobart, delegate to the Provincial Congress at 
Exeter, April, 1775. 

Col. John Hale and Deacon Enoch Noyes, chosen delegates 
to the Provincial Congress to meet at Exeter, May 13, 
i77v Col. Ilale not being able to attend, Col. Hobart was 
elected in his place May 21. 

1775, November 12. Stephen .Vmes chosen Representative to the 

General Court for one year. 

1776, November 36, Stephen Ames again chosen Representative to 

the General Coiul for one year. 

1777, November 25, Stephen Ames chosen Representative a third 

time to the General Court, for one year. 
. 1778, December 12, Capt. Reid^en Dow chosen Representative to 
the General Court. 
April 6, Capt. Noah Worcester and Dea. Enoch Noyes 
chosen delegates to the convention at Concord to form a 
'' new plan" of government. 
1779, Col. John Hale. August 12, chosen delegate to the convention 
held at Concord, September 23, 1779, to ''state prices." 
December 2, Col. John Hale chosen Representative to the 
General Court. 
I 7S0, November 23, Col. Hale again chosen Representative to the 
General Covu't. 

1 78 1, November 31, Capt. Daniel Emerson chosen Representative 

to the General Court. 

1782, October 28, Richard Cutts Sliannon chosen Representative to 

the General Court. 
1791, August 28, Capt. Daniel Emerson chosen delegate to the New 
Hampshire Constitutional Convention. 



VOTES FOR STATE PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR. 



261 



REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT, FROM 1 783 TO 1 778. 



Cupt. Daniel Emerson, 17S3 to 1791, '98, '99, 

iSoi, '02, '03, '09, '10 <ind II. 
Jeremiah Ames, 1793 to '97 and iSoo. 
Benjamin Pool, 1S04 to 1S08. 
Nathan Thayer, 1S12, '19, '20 and '21. 
Daniel Bailey, 1S13. 
Benjamin M. Farley, 1814 to 181S and 1824 to 

1S29. 
Ralph W. Jewett, 1S22 and '23. 
Jonathan T. Wright, 1830 and '31. 
Ralph E. Tenney, 1S32, '33, '34 and '45. 
Moses Proctor, 1835, '36 and '37. 
Joseph E. Smith, 1S3S and '39. 
Leonard Farley, 1S40, '4 i '42. 
William Merrill, 1S43 and '44. 
William P. Hale, 1S46, '47 and 48. 



John L. Pool, 1S49 and '50. 
Almon D. Marshall, 1S51 and 1852. 
John Farley, 1S53 and '54. 
John S. Haywood, 1855. 
Maj. James Wheeler, 1856 and '57. 
John H. Cutter, 1858 and '59. 
Minot Farley, i860 and 1861, 
IwUther Proctor, 1862. 
Reuben Baldwin, 1863 and '64. 
John Coburn, 1865 and '66. 

Timothy E. Flagg, 1867 and '68. 

Charles B. Richardson, 1869 and '70. 
Charles H. Worcester, 187 1 and '72. 
John Woods, 1S73 and '74. 
Charles A. Reed, 1S7S and '76. 
Franklin Worcester, 1S77 and 187S. 



Under the Constitution or -'Plan" of Government in force in 
New Hampshire from 1784 to the adoption of the present Consti- 
tution, September 5, 1792, tlie chief magistrate of the State had the 
title of " PrcsidenV instead of Governor^ and was elected in the 
like manner as the Governor now is under the present Constitution. 



VOTES FOR STATE PRESIDENT FROM 1 784 TO 1 792 



1784, Meshcch Weaie, 
John Langdon, 

1785, John Langdon, 
17S6, John Langdon, 
1787, John Langdon, 

John Sullivan, 
I78S, John Langdon. 
|ohn Sullivan, 



87 17S9, John Pickering, 

I Josiah Bartlctt, 

153 all cast. John Sullivan, 



103 
106 

14 
no 

S 



Woodbury Langdr 

1790, John Pickering, 

1 791, Josiah Bartlett, 

1792, Josiah Bartlctt. 



NCLUSIVE. 




,iS 






18 






'7 

15 






8S 


all ca 


ist 


'".^ 


" ' 




I "3 


" ' 


' 



VOTES I<OR GO\'ERNOR (eX'CEPT SCATTERING) FROM 1 793 To 1878, 

INCLUSIVE. 



■793. 

'794. 
'795. 
1796, 

'797. 
.79S, 
'799. 
1800, 

iSoi 

1802. 



John Taylor Gilman, 
Josiah Bartlett, 
John Taylor Gilman, 
John Taylor Gilman, 
John Taylor Gilman, 
John Taylor Gilman, 
John Taylor Gilman, 
John Taylor Gilman, 
John Taylor Gilman, 
Timothy Walker, 
, John Taylor Gilman, 
John Langdon, 
, John Taylor Gilman, 
John Langdon, 



75 
^3 
7S 
S3 
'05 
"3 



1S03, John Taylor Gilman. iio 

John Langdon, 42 

all cast. 1S04, John Langdon, 92 

" John Taylor Gilman. 79 

" iSoj, John Langdon, 127 

" John Taylor Gilman. 105 

1S06, John Langdon, 129 

" Timothy Farrar, 99 

iS07,John Langdon, 116 

Timothy Farrar, 44 

iSoS, John Langdon, 122 

Timothy Farrar. i 

1809, Jeremiah Smith, 139 

John Langdon, iiS 



36: 



VOTES FOR GOVERNOK. 



iSio, Jeremiah Smith, 

John Langdon, 
i8i I, Jeremiah Smith. 

John Langdon, 
1812, John Taylor Oilman. 

William Plunier, 
1S13, John Taylor Oilman, 

William Plumer, 
1814, John Taylor Oilman. 

William Plumer, 

1815, John T.aylpr Oilman, 
William Plumer, 

1816, James .Sheafc, 
William Plumer, 

1817, James .Sheafe, 
William Plumer. 

1S18, William Hale, 

William Plumer, 

1819, William Hale, 
.Samuel Bell. 

1820, Samuel Bell, 

1821, Samuel Bell, 
David L. Morrill. 

1522, Samuel Bell, 

1523, Levi Woodbury, 
Samuel Dinsmore, 

1834, Jeremiah Smith, 

David L. Morrill, 

Levi Woodbury, • 
1825, David L. Morrill, 
1S26, David L. Morrill. 

Benjamin Pierce, 
1827, Benjamin Pierce, 

David L. Morrill. 
182S, John Bell, 

Benjamin Pierce, 
1829, John Bell, 

Benjamin Pierce, 
1830 Timothj' Upliam. 

Matthew Harvey. 

1831, Samuel Dinsmore, 
Ichabod Bartlett, 

1832, .Samuel Dinsmore. 
Ichabod Bartlett, 

1833, Samuel Dinsmore. 
Charles H. Atherton, 

1834, William Badger, 

1835, William Badger, 
Joseph Healey, 

1836, Isaac Hill, 

1837, Isaac Hill, 

1838, James Wilson, Jun., 
Isaac Hill, 

1S39, James Wilson, Jun.. 

John Page, 
1840, John Page, 

Enos Stevens, 



133 1S41, John Page, 
loS Enos Stevens, 
138 1842, Henry Hubbard, 
laS Enos Stevens, 

141 i8)3. Henry Hubbard, 
107 Anthony Colby, 
157 1844, John H. Steele, 
105 Antliony Colby, 
169 Daniel Hoyt, 
105 1S45, John H. Steele, 
167 Anthony Colby. 
HI Daniel Hoyt, 

134 iS.t6, Jared W. Williams, 
107 Anthony Colby, 
146 Nathaniel S. Berry. 
102 1S47, Jared W. Williams, 

142 Anthony Colby, 

97 Nathaniel S. Berry. 

137 '84S, Jared W. Williams, 

67 Nathaniel S. Berry. 

96 1849, Samuel Dinsmore. 

84 Levi Chamberlain, 

17 Nathaniel S. Berrj . 

94 '850, Samuel Dinsmore, 

130 Levi Chamberlain, 

65 '851, Samuel Dinsmore, 

100 Thomas E. Sawyer, 

79 John Atwood, 

50 1852, Noah Martin, 

194 Thomas E. Sawyer. 
176 John Atwood, 

34 '853, Noah Martin. 

76 James Bell, 

i^ John H. White, 

195 1.S54, Nathaniel B. Baker. 
Si James Bell. 

159 Jared Perkins. 

116 1S55, Ralph Metcalf, 

ISS Nathaniel B. Baker. 

136 James Bell, 

150 1856, Ralph Metcalf. 

146 John S. Wells, 

141 Ichabod Goodwin, 

133 'S57, William Haile, 

17s John S. Wells, 

)8 1858, William Haile. 

133 Asa P. Cate, 

134 1859, Asa P. Cate, 

95 Ichabod Goodwin, 

114 i860, Ichabod Goodwin. 

99 Asa P. Cate, 

16S 1S61, Nathaniel S. Berry, 

135 George .Stark, 

152 1862, Nathaniel S. Berry, 

131 George Stark, 

152 1863, Ira A. Eastman, 

135 Joseph A. Gilmore. 



»6i 
137 
'59 
io3 

IS7 
83 

81 
33 
J38 
66 
*5 

'3' 
92 

37 

107 

33 

168 
ISO 
iji 
iiS 
20 
'56 
■30 
'Si 
107 

43 

•57 
126 

■S7 
90 
»3 

'35 
96 
37 

■55 

142 
1 1 

141 

i6a 
10 

'57 

'6S 

171 

168 

'97 
171 
14S 
1S4 
141 

'79 
'38 
■ SO 
164 



VOTES FOR GOVERNOR. 



263 



1864, Joseph A. Gilmore, 


'49 


.S73, 


Edward \V. Harrington, 


.56 




1865, Frederick Smyth, 


'74 


'S73. 


Edward W. Harrington, 


■56 




1866, Frederick Smyth, 


•75 


.874, 


John G. Sinclair, 


■47 




1867, Walter Harriman, 


1S9 


'87s. 


John G. Sinclair, 


144 




186S, Walter Harriman, 


179 


1876, 


John G. Sinclair, 


'58 




1869, Onslow Stearns, 


168 


■S77. 


John Bedell, 


'44 




1S70, Onslow Stearns, 


'54 


1 878, 


John Bedell, 


'36 




1871, James A. Weston, 


'52 


187S, 


James Pike, 


"S3 





Ezekiel A. Straw, 
James A. Weston, 
Ezekiel A. Straw, 
James A. Weston, 
Luther McCutchins, 
James A. Weston, 
Person C. Cheney, 
Hiram R. Roberts, 
Person C. Cheney, 

Daniel Marcy, 
Benjamin F. Prescott, 
Daniel Marcy, 
Benjamin F. Prescott, 
Frank A. McKean, 
(Nov,) Natt Head, 
Frank A. Mc Kean, 



167 
161 

■'55 
140 

'5' 
13a 
160 
'43 
'7» 
«4S 
168 
'36 
1 6a 
148 
'57 

I3<> 



364 STATISTICAI, HISTORY 



C H A P T E R X X V . 

jVREA. son.. PRODUCTIONS. STREAMS AND I'(JNDS. — FOKESl 

TREES. COOPERING. POPULATION. BIRTHS AND DEATHS. 

POSTMASTERS. TAVERN-KEEPERS. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

BURIAL GROUNDS. PUBLIC ROADS. MUTUAL INSURANCE COM- 
PANY. 

AREA, SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS. 

llollis is ill latitude 42 degrees, 44 minutes nortii. 1> ing on the 
south line of the State, and bounded north by Amherst and Milford," 
east by Nashua, south by Pepperell, Mass., and west by 13rookline. 
It is forty-two miles ncMthwest of Boston, and thirty-six south of 
Concord, and has an area of 19,620 acres or about 30 2-3 square 
miles. Its surface is much diversified with hills and \ alleys, but 
generally more level than that of most towns in the counts . there 
being no mountains, and Flint's and Birch hills, its highest eleva- 
tions, not exceeding about three hundred feet in height above the 
surrounding plains. The soil in ditlerent parts ^ aries ; a small 
portion of it being light and sandy, some of it in the north and 
west hard anil stony, but an unusual proportion of it in other sec- 
tions, consisting of a rich, somewhat pebbly or slatv loam, well 
adapted to pasturage, and the raising of hay, corn, small grains. 
fruits, potatoes and other vegetables. It lias, for mam' \ears, 
been noted for its abundance of good fruit, especiall}' apples, the 
produce of its orchards, according to tlie returns of the census, being- 
more in value than that of any otlier town in the county. That 
very excellent and popular apple, known as the -'Nod head," some- 
times called in fruit books, "■Jewelt's iinered," originated in llollis. 
about one hundred years ago, in the orchard of I)ea. Ste}:)hen Jewett, 
hence the last name. The town in all parts of it is well watered, 
scarcely any of its farms being without perennial brooks or springs. 

The householders of the town, from its hrst settlement, have been 



STATISTICAL HISTORY. 265 

mostly farmers, with such numbers of traders, inn-keepers, black- 
smiths, carpenters, shoemakers and other mechanics as were needed 
for the wants of the other inhabitants. In the past, as now, the 
farms have been of moderate size, ordinarily varying from fifty 
acres to one hundred and fifty. The New Hampshire Gazetteer of 
1874 says of it, "That Ilollis is one of the wealthiest towns in the 
county, and that e\ erything pertaining to the farms and farmhouses 
betokens an air of wealth and thrift." A compliment well deserved 
as to many of them, but subject to exceptions. 

In 1783, as shown by the census then taken, there were in the 
town 1,393 inhabitants, 174 dwelling-houses and 144 barns. Num- 
bers of those dwelling-houses are still standing, niany and it may 
be most of them of two stories, and of generous size. In 1800 the 
population had increased to 1,557, 'il^out 500 more than at present; 
and there can be no doubt that the number of farms and farm-houses 
in the town, and of acres tilled, was quite as large then as now, 
and also that the quantities of grain, and the numbers of oxen and 
sheep were larger. Sixty years ago the hay raised in the town was 
fed out on the farms where it grew. Now a large portion of it, 
with the other surplus agricultural and horticultural produce of the 
farms, finds its way to the neighboring markets. Then substantial 
and thrifty farmers had each his fiock of sheep and j^atch of flax, 
and the farmer's wife and daughters were skilled in the use of the 
distaft', spinning-wheel and hand-loom, for making the family cloth- 
ing from the wool and flax furnished from the farm. Now such 
implements of female thrift and industry are known only as histori- 
cal curiosities. Large quantities of excellent butler and also of 
cheese, of a much superior quality to that which the markets now 
furnish from our modern cheese factories, were made in the family, 
first for the family's use, l)ut with a generous surplus for sale. 
Now this industry to a very great extent has been abandoned, and 
in place of it, the milk produced in the town, to the amount, as 
reported, of 350,000 quarts yearly, is sent to market. Formerly 
large quantities of corn, rye and other grains raised in the town 
were also annually sent to market abroad ; now, to a considerable 
extent, Ilollis itself has become a market for the purchase of the 
like products. 

Still it may be that the aggregate wealth of tlie tcnvn, with its 
diminished population and lessened productions in some articles, is 
greater now than sixty years ago. In 1872 its assessed value for 



266 ' RIVERS, PONDS AND BROOKS. 

taxation was $803,435, true value estimated at $1,205,152, — money 
at interest and stocks, $41,692, — money in Savings Banks, $168,710 
— these items being larger, with but one or two exceptions, than 
the like items in any other town in the county, mainly agricultural. 

It is shown by the United .States census of 1870 that there were 
then in the town 10,805 acres of improved land, 203 horses, 1,171 
neat cattle, 123 sheep and 237 swine, of the aggregate value of 
$72,425. Also that there were raised that year in the town 1,090 
bushels of rye, 7,769 of corn. 6,844 ^^ ^'^^^^ '^"*^^ barley, 26 of wheat, 
320 of peas and beans, 11.368 of potatoes, and t;ii pounds of wool. 
That there were also made 25,5 10 pounds of butter, 4,505 of cheese, 
and 2,370 of sugar. The value of the products of the orchard the 
same year was $10,436; of animals sold or slaughtered $16,183; 
gallons of milk sold, 88,310; tons of hay raised, 2,575 ; the aggre- 
gate value of farm products (including betterments) being $133,321. 

According to the same census there were then in the town seven 
saw-mills, with a capital of $13,000, employing thirteen hands, 
with a pay-roll of $3,000. and sawing 1.400.000 feet of lumber, of 
the value of $21,000; also one grain mill. The whole amount 
of capital then invested in manufactures of difl'ercnt kinds was 
$28,000, employing thirty-four men, with a pay-roll of $12,000, 
and with a product for the year of the value of $43,000. In 1820, 
as stated in Farmer's New Hampshire Gazetteer, there were in 
Hollis five grain mills, six saw mills, one clothing mill, one card- 
ing machine, one tannery, two taverns and four stores. In 1878 (as 
appears) but one grain mill, no clothing mill, carding machine, 
tannery or tavern, and but one store. 

RIVERS, PONDS AND BROOKS. 

As has been said already, the town, in all parts of it, is well 
watered. Its south-east part is crossed by the Nashua river, and it.s 
south-west by the Nissitisslt. Besides several smaller ponds, there 
are in the town four large ones, viz.. Flint's pond in the east. Rocky 
in the north-west, Pcnnichuck in the north-cast, and Long pond 
north of the centre, varying in area from fifty to one hundred acres. 
Brooks of considerable size form the outlet of each of these ponds, 
viz., Flint's brook, flowing into the Nashua, of Flint's pond ; Pen- 
nichuck, emptying into the Merrimack, of the pond of the same 
name, and also of Long pond, and Rocky Pond brook, flowing 
into the Nissitisslt, of Rocky pond. Many other, smaller brooks flow 



POPULATION. 267 

into these ponds and rivers, some of which, as well as the rivers and 
the other brooks, furnish eligible sites for saw and other mills. 

FOREST TREES, LUMBER AND COOPERING. 

Since its first settlement, the forests of Hollis have abounded in a 
large variety of the most valuable forest trees, including white and 
other species of Oak, Pine, Chestnut, Walnut, White and Sugar 
Maple and many other kinds. The great abundance and good 
quality of its oak and chestnut timber, early in the present century, 
led many of the citizens of the town to engage in the manufacture 
of barrels and other casks for the Boston market, very many of the 
farmers having a cooper' s shop near the farm house. This busi- 
ness for many years was carried on to such extent that it was some- 
times said by their neighbors of other towns, "that all the Hollis 
folks were coopers, except their minister, and that he hooped his 
own cider barrels ! " The manufacture of casks of different kinds 
is still carried on to considerable extent, but by a less number of 
persons than formerly, pine lumber being now mainly used for this 
purpose, in place of oak and chestnut. 

POPULATION. 

No official provincial census of Hollis, taken prior to 1767, has 
come down to us. The best means now available for approximat- 
ing to the number of its inhabitants before that year, are furnished 
by the names of the tax payers, on the annual tax lists. The num- 
ber of names on the tax lists in West Dunstable, in 1740, was 
twenty-nine, — in 174=^, seventy- seven ; on the Hollis tax list in 1746, 
the year of its incorpoiation, fifty-three. The nvmiber of names 
found on these lists from 1746 to 1783, was as below. 

•74<^. S3- I7SS. 107- '76s- '3>- '775.(^1 the beginning of the war,) ^79. 

■75°! 77- 1760, 117. '77i> 231. '783, (at the end of the war,) 393. 

One Pine Hill was annexed in 1763, and the south part of Mon- 
son in 1770, which accounts in part for the increase of names on 
the tax lists in 1765 and 1771. The whole population in 1767 was 
809, including one male and one female slave. In 1775^ whole 
population 1,255, ^^ which four were slaves. According to the sev- 
eral censuses taken in different years since, the population was as 
presented below. 

'7S3. '392- 'Soo, 1557. iSao, 1543. 1S40, 1333. i860, 1317. 
1790, 1441. iSio, 1529. 1S30, 1501. 1S50. 1293. 1S70, 1079. 

The whole population of New Hampshire in 1767 was 52,880; 
in 1775, 82,200. 



268 POSTOFFICE AND POSTMASTERS 

BIRTHS AND DEATHS FROM 1 794 TO 181S. 

It appears from the Hollis church records, as kept by Rev. Eli 
Smith from 1794 to 1818, that it was his custom to enter in those 
records, the yearl_v number of births in the town, with the name 
of the father of the several children born. It is shown by this re- 
cord, that for the twenty-five years from 1794 to 1S18. the number 
ol births in the town annually was as follows : 



"794. 41- 


'799. 3'>- 


1S04, 45. 


1S09, 32. 


1S14, 27. 


'795. 46. 


iSoo, 2g. 


1S05, 40. 


iSio, 33. 


■Sis, 25. 


1796, 50. 


iSoi, 55. 


1S06, 37. 


iSii, 32. 


1S16, 33. 


1797. 57- 


iS03, 55. 


1S07, 40. 


1S12, 27. 


1S17, iS. 


1798, 41. 


1803, SI. 


iSoS, 37. 


1S13, 25. 


iSiS, II. 



Making in all 907 births in the twenty-five years. It is shown in 
Farmer's New Hampshire Gazetteer, published in 1823, that the 
number of dcatJis in Hollis for the same twentv-five years was 557. 
being- an excess of births over deaths of 340. 

POSTOFFICE AND POSTMASTERS. 

The first postmaster appointed in Hollis was Major Ambrose 
(iould in the } ear 1818. Prior to that year, there had been no post- 
office in llolli.s, and letters and other matters sent by mail, ad- 
dressed to Hollis people, were sent to the postoffice at Amherst. 
The following list, copied mainly from the New Hampshire Annual 
Registers, exhibits the names of the Hollis postmasters from 1818 
to 1879, with the years in which they severally held the office. 

Ambrose Gould, in 
Henoni G. Cutter, ' 
Moses Proctor, 
William Butterficld, • 
Franklin Wrig-ht, 
Jtdward Emerson, ' 
Iveuben l):ild\vin. 

In the year i794- with a population in the vState of 141,885, the 
number of postoffices in the State was but five. In 1802 — pop- 
ulation of the .State, 183,858. Number of postoffices, twenty-eight. 
In 181 8 — population. 214,460. Nimiber of postoffices, sixty-eight. 
!n 1S60 — population 326,073. Number of postoffices three hun- 
dred and seventy-two. .Since i860 the number of postoffices in the 
State is supposed to have considerably increased. 

1A\'EKN KEEPERS FROM I 792 TO 182I. 

Witli but one or t\vo exceptions, I have been unable to learn the 
Bamcs of the V^iveri/ Keepers in Hollis previously to i79'^- ^" 



iSiS to 1S30. 


William N. Ttiiiicy, " 


1S56 ^ 


• i?S*^. 


1S30 ' 


' >S3S. 


David W. Sawteil, " 


iSsS ' 


' 1S62. 


"S3S " 


1S36. 


Ebenezer T. Wheeler," 


1S62 " 


' 1867. 


i?36 ' 


' 1S40. 


William A. Trc.w. " 


1867 * 


' iS7S. 


1S40 • 


' iS45- . 


Henry N. Smith. 


1S75 ' 


' '877- 


■S4S ' 


' 1^54. 


Georae A. Bnriie, " 


IS77 ' 


' i87<'- 


'S54 • 


■ 1S56. 









JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 269 

that year the New Hampshire General Court passed an Act au- 
thorizing the Selectmen of towns to grant licenses to keep tavern to 
"suitable persons," having "accommodations" who might make 
application, with the right to sell by retail rum^ brandy^ -wine^ gin 
and other spirituous liqtiors — such license, unless renewed, to con- 
tinue but one year. It appears from a record of their doings kept 
by the Selectmen, that between the years 1792 and 1821, licenses 
to keep tavern in Hollis were granted to the several persons named 
below, and to most of them in several different years. In 1793? t^ 
William W. Pool and to widow Sarah Eastman; 1794 to Capt. 
Leonard Whiting; 1795 to Leonard Whiting, Jun. ; 1796 to Capt. 
B. Woods Parker, and John Smith ; 1806 to Daniel Emerson, Esq., 
Benjamin Pool, Daniel Merrill and Ambrose Gould ; 181 2 to Ben- 
jamin Farley, Peleg Lawrence and Nehemiah Woods ; 1818 to 
Charles Farley, Luther Parker and Joseph Patch; iSzi to Miss 
Mary Woods, Dr. Noah Hardy, and Samuel G. Jewett. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

The Justices of the Peace in Hollis, prior to the war of the Rev- 
olution, have been spoken of in a former chapter. During the war, 
(in the year 1777) Noah Worcester was appointed to this office and 
continued to hold it afterwards till his death in 1S17. Also during 
the war, or soon after it, Dea. Daniel Emerson was commissioned 
a Justice of the Peace and Qiiorum, which office he continued to 
hold till his decease in 1S20. From the close of the war till 1808, 
a period of near thirty years, with a population in Hollis averaging 
near i ^00, Messrs. Emerson and Worcester were the only Justices 
of the Peace in the town. For the next twenty-two years, from 
1808 to 1830, but seven other citizens of Hollis were appointed to 
that office, viz., in 1808, Benjamin Pool, Amos Eastman and Wil- 
liam Ames; in 1813, Benjamin Farley; in 1816, Benjamin M. 
Farley; in 1822, Nathan Thayer, and in 1830, Christopher P. 
Farley. 

In the early civil history of our State, this office of Justice of the 
Peace involved responsible and very important public duties and 
also implied capacity on the part of such magistrates to discharge 
those duties intelligently and acceptably. But in view of the num- 
bers and frequency of such appointments for the last thirty years 
or more, with the supposed reasons for many of them, one may be 
permitted to doubt whether the office, in all cases, is now looked 



270 niiRIAl. (JllOl'NDS. 

upon as involving .such tlutics to the pubHc, or conipetenc\ lor their 
performance. In nianv, not to say in a niajoritv of instances, the 
commission of Justice with the title conferred by it, seem to be looked 
upon as a matter of cheap fashionable ornament, intended for per- 
sonal gratilication ami distinction, ratlier than as of an\ important 
practical use to the pid)lic. Such commissions, as is understood, add 
one dollar each to the revenues of the State, and the New Hamp- 
sliire Governors and Coimcil have become exceedingly obliging and 
liberal in the issue of ollicial compliments of this sort to their fel- 
low citizens in all parts of the State — cspecialU to such of tliem as 
were kno\vn to be of like politics with themselves, "riiere is no 
evidence that the good people of Ilollis have been more boimtifullv 
favored with these complimentarv commissions llian the citizens of 
most towns in other parts of the vState. \ et it appears from the sta- 
tistics to be found in the New Hampshire Annual Registers, that 
since the year 1830, no less than fifty of the worlln citizens of 
Ilollis have been so favored, (an average of more than one a year), 
and that no less than twelve of them hekl such commissions in 1878. 
Of this last nmnber. four, as appears, were justices of the Peace 
for the State at large, having jurisdiction in all parts of it — and one. 
of the cjiiorum, all cx-ojfcio^ having the right to l)e addressed by the 
title of '• k^scjuire." — also to issue writs both in ci\ il and criminal 
cases — holil courts — and try causes — am! in all-])roper cases to join 
in Nvedlock, and read the riot act — the number of these officials in 
the town, each \\ ilh all these ])Owers and duties, being cc]ual li) one 
for each ninct\ of the \\ hole ol the present jiojiulation. 

HLii;iAi. (;i{Oi \i)s. 

There are now in the to\\n. in all. fi\ e oi those sacred reposito. 
ries of the remains of the dead, the most ancient of them near the 
meeting-house, older in fad than the tow n charier : the next oldest 
on the road to Andierst. in the north ])ari of the to\\ n. w ithin the 
limits of the extinct town of Monson ; one at Pine Hill in the east 
part ; a fomth about a mile st)uth of the meeling-liouse. on the road 
to Pe}:)perelk laid out about fifty >ears ago ; the lifth near a mile 
ca.st of the meeting-house, which has been in use about sixteen 
years. All of these grounds are of mcnlerate extent, no one ol them 
containing more than two or three acres. It may be that all of these 
sacred repositories are ke])t in as good condition, antl the graves, 
niommients and gravestones in th.em as well preserved and cared for 



THE PUBLIC ROADS. 



271 



nfi in most like public liurial grounds in this part of the State, which 
is saying but \ery little in their favor. Still no one of these ceme- 
teries in IloUis is now fenced, cared for and ornamented in a way 
to do justice to the feelings and sentiments which the descendants of 
its early inhabitants entertain of tlie moral worth of the many excel- 
lent and patriotic men, and exemplary and virtuous women, whose 
mortal dust reposes in them. If the attention of the people of 
I loll is is once properly called to this subject, no doubt should be 
indulged that in this matter, better justice would soon be done alike 
to themselves and to the memories of an ancestry of which they feel 
justly proud. 

ri\E I'UKLIC ROADS. 

'l"hc pul)lic roads in llollis, now leading to Amherst, Pepperell, 
Nashua, Merrimack and Brookline, were originally laid out three 
rods wide, most of them substantially on the lines where they still 
run. Previous to or at the time the town was incorporated in 1746, 
it was divided into five road districts, and that number of Surveyors 
of Highways was chosen at the first town election. Between that 
date and the end of the war of the Revolution, the number of road 
districts was increased to twelve, with the like number of Surveyors 
of Highways. At that time it was the custom to determine by vote 
at the annual meeting, the amount of the yearly tax "for making and 
mending the highways" (all to be paid in labor on the roads) and 
also to fix by the like vote, the sum to be allowed for a day's work 
both of men and oxen. The amount of the road tax, as also the 
wages allowed for labor, varied in different years, according to the 
state of the currency. From 1746 to 1765, the money in circulation 
was mainly what was afterwards known, as the "Old Tenor" paper 
money. This currency fluctuated in value from year to year, and 
the amount of the road tax, and wages, varied with the value of the 
currency. For example, in 1752 the road tax was £400 O. T. — 
allowed for a day's work for a man 30 shillings — for a pair of oxen 
10 shillings. In 1760, the road tax was £1000 — allowed for a day's 
work for a man £5, do. for oxen, 30 shillings. In 1768, after the' 
Old Tenor paper had gone out of use, and "lawful" or silver money 
had taken its place, the annual tax for "making and mending the 
highways," was £35 — allowed for a man's days work, 2 shillings 
and 5 pence, or about 40 cents, in Federal money — for a pair of oxen 
12 1-2 pence, or about 18 cents. 



272 HOM.IS INSUHANCE COMPANY. 

During the war of the Revohition, when tlie taxes were assessed 
and paid in tlie old Continental paper money, the amount of the road 
tax, and the wages for a day's work, fluctuated from year to year in 
like manner as from 1746 to 1765. The public roads in Hollis, as 
is evident from the town records, were an object of much attention, 
and appear to have been uniformly well cared for from its first settle- 
ment, and during the present century, at least, they have been kept 
well graded, smooth and safe, and now afford pleasant drives, 
whether for business or pleasiu'e, in all parts of the town. 

THE HOELIS MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY. 

Some more than thirty years since, many ot the citizens of Hollis 
believing that they might secure themselves from losses by fire at 
less expense than through the joint stock, or other fire insurance 
companies then existing, resolved to try the experiment of a town 
organization for their mutual protection from such losses. With 
this purpose in view, a pul)lic meeting was held April 7, 1846, at 
the hall of Truman I lardy, of which Dr. Oliver vScripture was 
chairman, and resolutions (then reported upon tlie subject), adopted 
and signed by fifty-three of their number. At the same meeting, a 
committee of six of them, consisting of William P. .Saunderson, 
Joseph E. Smith, Leonard Farley, David J. Wright. Joel Hardy 
and Edward Emerson, was appointed to draft .a constitution and 
by-laws, and also to take the proper steps to obtain a charter for the 
association. These proceedings resulted in the procuring for the 
association an act of incorporation at the June session of the General 
Court of the same year, by the name of the " Hollis Mutual Fire 
Insurance Company." 

The company was organized August 3, 1S46, with the following 
officers then chosen, viz. : President, Ebenezer Fox ; vSecretary and 
Treasurer, Edward Emerson ; Directors, Leonard Farley, David J. 
Wright, David W. Sawtell, William P. vSaunderson, Joel Hardy and 
Ambrose H. Wood. 

The losses of this company for the thirty-two years of its existence 
to December i, 1S78, have been $3,081.74 ; amount of property 
insured $216,202 ; amoiuit of premium notes now held by the 
company, $13,174.95. The officers of the company the presentyear 
(1879) are. President, Edward ILirdy ; Secretary and Treasurer, 
Ebenezer T. Wheeler; Directors, Edward Hardy, Jefferson Farley, 
Silas M. Spaulding, Ira H. Proctor, Timothy E. Flagg, Joseph 
Gates and Isaac Vandyke. 



EDUCATIONAI. HISTORY. 



■Vo 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SCHOOL LAWS AND TAXP:S. SCHOOL 

DISTRICTS. STATE LITERARY FUND. SCHOOL COMMITTEES. 

TEACHERS, THEIR qLTALIFICATIONS TO TEACH, AND EXAMINA- 
TION. THE HIGH SCHOOL. MISS MARY S. FARLEY. HOLLIS 

LIBRARY. LYCEUMS AND PUBLIC LECTURES. — GRADUATES OF 

COLLEGES. 

In a former chapter I have spoken of the school law in force in- 
New Hampshire prior to, and for some years after the Revokition, 
and somewhat of the public schools in Hollis under that law. 
It was shown by that law, that each New Hampshire town having 
fifty families was required to support a public school for teaching- 
children in the town to " read and write," and towns having one 
hundred families or more, to maintain a Grammar school in which 
the "tongues" or dead languages should be taught. These schools, 
as has been seen, were sustained by an annual tax, voted at the yearly 
March meeting, and were wholly under the charge and control of 
the Selectmen. This school law remained in force without material 
change till 17S9. 

The following exhibit presents the yearly amount of the school 
tax voted at the annual town meetings in Hollis, from 1750 for the 
following thirty-nine years. From 1 750 to 1 767, this tax was assessed 
in the "Old Tenor" paper currency ; from 1767 inclusive, to 1776 
in " Lawful Money" or silver; during the war, in Continental paper 
money or New Hampshire bills of credit ; after the war, again in 
lawful money or silver. 

SCHOOL TAXES FROM 1 75O TO 17S9. 

In 1 75 1, £50, O. T. In 1752, 1753 and 1754, no school tax ; 
1755, £100, O. T. In 1756, no school tax. In 1757, £200, O. T. : 
1758, £300. In 1759, 1760. 1 761, 1762 and 1763, £400, yearly. [j, 



274 SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 

1764 and 1765, £Soo, each year; 1766, £600. In 1767, £35, lawful 
money or silver. In 176S, 1769 and 1770, £30, lawful money each 
year. In 1771, 1772 and 1773, £30 lawful money, yearly. In 1774 
and 1775, £50 lawful money, each year. In 1776 and P777, £50 ; 
^778, £So ; 1779, £300; 1780, £4000, all in •Continental paper 
money. In 17S1 and 1782, £50 each year,- lawful money, and in 
1783, £65; 1784, £50, all in lawful money. In 1785, 1786, 1787, 
1788 and 1789, £75, lawful money, yearly. 

THE SCHOOL LAW OF 1 789. 

An Act of the General Court passed in 1789, for the maintaining 
and regulating the New^ Hampshire public schools, repealed the 
school laws till that time in force, and made it the duty of the Se- 
lectmen, yearly to assess upon the inhabitants of each tovni £45 
upon each 20 shillings of the town's proportion of the public taxes, 
for the teaching the children and youth of the town " reading, 
writing and arithmetic." It may be seen that by the law of 1789 
that " arithmetic " was recjuired to be taught in the public schools, 
in addition to •' reading and writing." '* Shire towns and half shire 
towns," by the same law, were required to maintain a Grammar 
school, for teaching "Latin and Greek." This Act of 17S9 is 
supposed to have continued in force till 180'^. 

SCHOOL TAXES ASSESSED UNDER THE SCHOOL LAW OF I/Sg. 

In 1790, £90. In 1791, £85. In 1792, 1793, 1794 and 1795, £90 
yearly. In 1796, $400. From 1797 to 1S03, inclusive, $450 yearly. 
In 1804 and 1805, $500 each year. In 1806, 1807 and 1808. $700 
yearly. 

SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 

I find no statute school law, in New Hampshire passed, previous 
to the year 1805, requiring or seeming in its terms to contemplate 
the division of towns, for school purposes into school districts. In 
that year an Act was passed by the General Court, conferring 
authority upon towns, at a legal meeting called for the purpose, to 
organize school districts (should the inhabitants so choose), and 
define their boundaries. This Act, a few years later, was so 
amended as to make this subdivision of the towns into school dis- 
tricts i7nperatlve upon the town authorities. 



SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 275 

Still, as has been before stated, it appears from the town records 
that some years before the Revolution Hollis was, in fact, divided 
into local subdistricts for the support of its public schools. These 
divisions appear to have been wholly voluntary on the part of such 
of the inhabitants as were affected by them, and as we have seen 
were called in the records, school '• classes," school "societies," or 
"squadrons," but I have not been able to find any record in respect 
to their location or the manner in which they were organized. How 
many of these school "classes" or "squadrons" thei^e may have 
been at the time the law was passed requiring towns to be divided 
into school districts, with fixed boundaries, cannot now be ascer- 
tained with certainty, but probably there were not less than eight 
or ten of them. It is shown by the town records that as early as 
the year i774 the town voted, " that the Grammar school should be 
kept the whole year in the four southern squadrons^ the other 
squadrons to school out their money as usual, except their propor- 
tion of the Grammar school." As the part of the town north of the 
meeting-house was quite as large in extent as that south of it, and 
probably quite as populous, there can be but little doubt that before 
the Revolution there were as many as eight or nine of these school 
' squadrons." 

After the passage of the law requiring towns to be divided into 
school districts, with fixed boundaries, we find that as early as the 
year iSiS there were in Hollis as many as twelve of these districts, 
and this number, by subdivision, was afterwards increased to 
fourteen. These districts were designated numerically, from No. i 
to No. 14, and were also familiarly known and called by the fol- 
lowing names : No. I, Middle^ or Centre; ^o. 2, Pool; No. 3, 
Pine mil ; No. 4, Corner; No. 5, White; No. 6, Southivest ; 
No. 7, Red; No. 8, North; No. 9, Beaver Brook; No. 10, 
Northwest^ or Bailey; No. 11, Willoughby ;^o. 12, East; No. 
13, Brick; No. 14, Hardy. 

This number of districts continued till 1874, when Nos. i, 5, 9, 
13 and 14, known as the "Middle," "White,"" Beaver Brook," 
"Brick" and "Hardy," were united and consolidated into a single 
district, since known as the Utiion School District^ thus reducing 
the whole number of districts in the town to ten. Upon the union 
of these districts being consummated, the old school buildings in all 
of those five districts were abandoned for school purposes and sold, 
and the new Union district at once proceeded to purchase a beautiful 
and sightly school-house lot on Main street, near the centre of the 



276 SCHOOL niSTHlCTS. 

town, and to erect upon it for the use of its schools, a spacious, 
commoclious, well-finished and furnished two-story school-house, 
with convenient and suitable out-buildings and fixtures at the cost of 
about $10,000, in which its schools have since been kept. In the 
year 1876, the "■ Pine Hill " and "East" districts were united into 
one, thus reducing the whole number of school districts in the town 
to ninc^ the present number. 

With perhaps the exception of the school in the first or middle 
district, I am aware of no special facts of general interest, which 
in any marked degree would distinguish the public schools in 
Hollis from the like country schools in most other New Hampshire 
country towns. For the first twenty-five years of the present cen- 
tury, all these schools, generally, if not uniformly, were kept by 
male teachers in winter, and by school mistresses in summer, and 
from well ascertained facts which have come to my knowledge, I 
am led to the Ijelief that the average attendance of pupils upon them 
fifty years ago was more than double of what it has been for the last 
twenty-five years. During the period last named, many and it may 
be most of these schools have been taught by female teachers both 
winter and summer. 

The following somewhat curious and unique facts pertaining to 
the "middle" school district in Hollis are below presented, substan- 
tially as published in the Nashua Weekly Telegraph about two years 
since. I am indebted for them to my brother, John N. Worcester, 
who has spent his life in 'Hollis, and has kept himself well posted 
in its local history, and who, w ith myself, in our boyhood, was a 
member of tlie school in that district. With but slight changes the 
article, as it appeared in the Telegrapli, was as follows : 

••HOLLIS SIXTY YEARS AGO." 

••In the year 181 3, there were in the First or Middle school dis- 
trict in Hollis forty-two dwelling-houses, at that time occupied by 
forty-eight families, including widowed mothers whose husbands, 
then deceased, had been residents of the district. Three of these 
forty-eight families had no children ; the remaining forty-five of 
them had had, in all, three hundred and eighty-four, averaging eight 
and eight-fifteenths to each fiimily. Nine of the forty-five families 
had six children each ; seven of them, seven each ; four of them 
eight each ; eight of them nine each ; four, ten each ; two, eleven 
each ; three, twelve each ; two, thirteen each ; one fourteen, one 
fifteen, and one sixteen. 



scnooi. TAXES. 277 

*' Of these three hundred and eighty-four children, three hundred 
and twenty-nine lived to adult age ; sixteen of the fathers of them 
were soldiers in the war of the Revolution ; and twenty-two of the 
sons born in twelve of these families had the benefit of a collegiate 
education. 

" Both the father and mother of one of these f.imilies of twelve 
children are still living, (March i, 1879), the father in his 93d 
year, the mother in her SSth, they having been married November 
21, 181 1, sixty-seven years ago. The several mothers of the rest of 
the three hundred and eighty-four children are all deceased. The 
respective ages of forty-two of these forty-five mothers, at the time 
of their decease, are known. 

" The sum of the ages of twelve of the forty-two was six hundred 
and twenty-three years, making the average age of each of the 
rwelve, fifty-one and eleven-twelfths years. The aggregate ages of 
twelve others of the forty-two were nine hundred and twenty-two 
years, making their average age seventy-six and ten-twelfths years. 
The sum of the ages of the remaining eighteen of the forty-two was 
fifteen hundred and ninety years, making the average of the eighteen, 
eighty-eight and one-third years. The foregoing data have been 
gathered from sources believed to be correct and reliable, and they 
may interest others as well as myself who take pleasure in recalling 
memories of 

"Olden Times." 

school taxes from 1808 to 1828. 

In 1808 the law relating to the amount of taxes to be raised for 
the public schools was so amended as to require each town to raise 
for its schools a sum equal to $70 for every one dollar of the town's 
portion of the public taxes. In 1827 this per centage was increased 
to $90 for each one dollar of the town's share of other public taxes. 
The amount of school taxes, annually assessed in Hollis under these 
laws from 1808 to 1828, was as follows : In 1809, $500. In 1810, 
181 1 and 1 81 3, $700 each year. In 1813, $500. From 1814 to 
1828 inclusive, $700 each year. 

THE state's literary SCHOOL FUND. 

In the year 1828 a law was passed by the General Court in pur- 
suance of which all the banks in the State were taxed at the rate 
of one-half of one per cent, on their capital stock for the support of 



278 SCHOOL TAXES. 

the public schools. The tax so raised was known as the State's 
Lfiterary Fund^ and was required to be divided among the towns 
in the proportion of each town's share of the public State tax. The 
share of Ilollis in this fund has greatly varied in the several years 
from 1828 to 1878, amounting in some years to about $250, and in 
others to less than $100. 

Since the year 1828 the law in respect to the amount of taxes to 
be assessed for the jDublic schools has been several times changed. 
Previously to 1S42, the percentage to be assessed on the town's pro- 
portion of the State tax was increased from $90 to $100 upon each 
dollar of the town's proportion of that tax ; and again in 1852 this 
percentage was increased to $135. and at last in 1867 to $350 upon 
each dollar of the town's share of other public taxes. 

SCHOOL TAXES FROM 1 828 TO 187S. 

In addition to the Literary Fund, there were assessed for the pub- 
lic schools in Ilollis in each of the years named below, the following 
sums annually, viz., 1829 and 1830, $700; 1831, $660; 1832 and 
1833, $700; 1834, ''^35 ^'^^^ 1836, $800; 1837, $600; 1S38, 1839, 
1840, $700; 1841, '42, '43. '44, '45, '46, '47, '48 and 1849, $Soo ; 
1850, $1000; 1851 and 1852, $Soo ; 1853 and 1854, $1000; 1855? 
'56, '57, 's8, 'S9, '60, '61, '62, '63, '64 and 1861^. "the amount only 
'required by law." 1866. $300, in addition to the amount required 
by law; 1867, 'G$>, '69, '70, '71 and 1872, the amount only required 
by law; 1873, v$i5oo; 1874, '75 and 1876, the amount required by 
law ; 1877, $400 in addition ; 1878. $^00 in addition. 

COMMITTEKS 'lO VLSI'r AND KXAMIXE SCHOOLS. 

By tlie law in force in New Hampshire for abc^ut twenty years 
prior to 1827, each town in the State, at its annual meeting, was re- 
quired to appoint thi^ee or more suitable persons to visit and examine 
all the public scliools in the town, at such times as might be con- 
venient. The first appointment of committees for this purpose, to 
be found in the Ilollis records, was in the year 1806. This first 
committee consisted of Rev. Eli Smith, Dea. Daniel Emerson, 
Ensign Samuel Willoughby, Capt. Leonard Whiting and Mr. Amos 
Eastman. The powers and duties of these committees appear to 
have been limited to the visiting and examination of the schools 
without any authority to examine teachers. 



SCHOOL COMMITTEES. 279 

EXAMINATION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS. 

It was enacted by the school law passed in 1808, that no person 
should be deemed qualified to teach a public school in this State 
" unless he or she should produce to the Selectmen or School Com- 
mittee a certificate from some able and reputable Grammar School 
Master, Minister of the Gospel, or President, Professor, or Tutor in 
some college, that he or she is well qualified to teach such school ; 
and also a certificate of good moral character, from the Selectmen, 
or Minister of the Parish to which the candidate belonged. Pro- 
vided, (however) that the qualifications of School Mistresses be re- 
quired to extend no further than that they should be able to teach 
the vari07is sozaids and poivcrs of the letters of tJic Ei/gUsJi lan- 
gtiagc^ Readings 'Wi-iting and English Gravimar.'" It may be 
observed that this law did not require female teachers to be ex- 
amined at all in respect to their qualifications to teach Arithmetic. 

In the year 1827 this school law was so amended as to require 
female teachers as well as male to be Cjualified to teach the rudiments 
of Arithmetic and Geography ; and, again, some years afterwards, 
it was so changed as to require all teachers in the public schools to 
be qualified to teach the elements of History and such other suitable 
studies as the School Committee should judge proper for the school. 

EXAMINING SCHOOL COMMITTEES FROM lSo6 TO 1 827. 

Rev. Eli Smith, 1806, '08, 'co, '10. '12. and Ambrose Gould, iSi i, '15, and 1820. 

from 1812 to 1S27. John French, 1S12, '13, '14, and 1815. 

Dea. Daniel Emerson, iSc6 and iSii. Abijah Gould, 1S15, '17, 'i8, '19 and 1S21. 

Ensign Samuel Willougbby, iSc6 and 1810. Dr. Noah Hardy, from 1816 to 1827. 
C apt. Leonard Whiting, i8c6. Nathan Thayer, 1S17, '18, '21, '22, '25 and 1S27. 

Amos Eastman, 1806 and 1807. Dr. Peter Manning, 1S17. 

Noah Worcester, 1S07. Capt. Jonathan B. Eastman, 1S17, '18, '19, '2t, 

William Brown, 1S07, 'oS, '09, '12, '13. and '22, and 1S24. 

1S16. Dr. Joseph F. Eastman, 1S23 and 1S24. 

Dea. Stephen Jewett, 1S08. William Emerson, 1823 and 1S25. 

Dea. Ephraim Burge, 1S09. Capt. Jonathan T. Wright, 1S25 and 1S27. 

Benjamin M. Farley, 1809, '12, '13, '14. "15, William Ames, 1S26 and 1827 

'16, and from 1819 to 1826. Ralph E. Tenney. 1S27. 

Jesse Worcester, iSii, '16, '20, and 1S26. 

SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEES. 

In the year 1827, this school law was amended in respect to 
school committees, making it the duty of towns at their annual 
meetings to elect or appoint a Superintending School Committee of 
not less than three in number, whose duty it should be to exam ine 
all candidates for teaching in the public schools of the town, and 



.^8o SCHOOL COMMITTEES. 

also to visit and inspect each of the schools at least twice in each 
year. Under this law, the vSuperintending Committee in Hollis 
varied in number in difierent years, from three to seven. 

Some years afterwards the law w^as so altered as to permit the 
town to elect by ballot for this committee so many persons only as 
the voters at the annual meeting might think fit. In pursuance of 
this law, so amended, the town at several of its annual meetings 
elected but one person as Superintending Committee, the person 
so elected being charged with the whole duty of examining candi- 
dates for teaching, and visiting and inspecting the schools. 

MEMBERS OF THE SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEES FROM 

1827 TO 1878. 

Rev. Eli Smith, iSaS, '29 and 1830. Joseph F. Eastman, Jan., 1841 and 1842. 

Dr. Noah Hardy, 1828, '39, '31, '32, '37, '.^8, William P. Hale, 1843 and 1844. 

'39, '40, '43 and 1S49. Rev. James Aiken, 1844. 

William Ames, 182S, '33, '34, 'i^, '36, '37, and William P. Saunderson, 1845 and 1846. 

i84o. • Nathan Willoughby, 1847 and 184S. 

Nathan Thayer, 182S, '29 and 1830. Dr. John L. Colhy, 184S. 

Joseph Greeley., 1S29. Cyrus Burge, 1S49. 

Rev. Leonard Jewett, 1829, '45 and 1846. James Blood, iS49and 1850. 

Benjamin M. Farley, 1830, '31, '32, '33, '35, '37, Rev. Daniel P. Deming, 1850. 

'38, '39, '41, '42 and 1S43. Dr. Lockhart B. Farrar, 1850. 

Edward Emerson, 1830, '31, '32, '36, '42, '47, Timothy E. Flagg, 1851 and 1852. 

and 1854. Andrew Willoby, 1852, '53, and 1854. 

John N. Worcester, 1S30, '31, '32 and 1847. Nathan M. Ames, 1852 and 1S5S. 

Rev. David Perry, from 1S31 to 1842, and Dr. Henry Boynton, 1855, '56 and 1857. 

1871. Rev. Pliny B. Day, from 1854 to 1866. 

Dr. Oliver Scripture, 1S33. Dr. Henry W. Willoughby, 1855, '56, 'S7, 'jS, 
Moses Proctor, 1833 and 1838. 'S9, '62, '67, '68, '69 and 1870. 

Joseph E. Smith, 1S34, '35, '36, '43, '44, '51, and Dr. George P. Greeley, i860. 

1852. Dea. James D. Hills, 1S61. 

Taylor G. Worcester, 1834, '35, '36, '38, '44, '48, David Worcester, 1867. 

'60 and 1S71. Rev. James Laird, 1871 and 1872- 

Rev. Phineas Richardson, from 1S39 to 1S44. Levi Abbot, 1873, '74, '75 and 1S7S. 

Benjamin F. Farley, 184S and 1846. Rev. Hiram L. Kelsey, 1876 and 1877. 

STATISTICS OF THE HOLLIS SCHOOLS IN 1 873. 

According to the report of the State Superintendent of the New 
Hampshire Public Schools for 1873, the year previous to the for- 
mation of the Union School District in Hollis, there were then in the 
town fourteen school districts, two hundred and sixty-two children 
and youth of school age, with an average attendance of two hundred 
and four — value of school-houses, $3,000, or about $215 average 
value — amount of money for the year raised for schools, $2,245.36, 
being $8.56 per scholar, for those of school age. 




ii 



S IlKWI S(W1()()L. 

KS'lAliLlSHKI) 1(!77 



HIGH SCHOOL. 30I 

THE HOLLIS HIGH SCHOOL. 

In several different years prior to 1S76, earnest efforts had been 
made by many of the friends of popular education in Hollis to estab- 
lish a High School., as authorized by the law of the State, of which 
the youth in all parts of the town might enjoy the benefit, and a 
number of town meetings had been held specially to consider the 
question. But previously to the year above named all such efforts 
had wholly failed. 

This worthy and beneficent object has however been at last hap- 
pily accomplished by means of the generous bequest of Miss Mary 
S. Farley, the only daughter and heir-at-law of Capt. Christopher 
P. Farley, a grandson of Lieut. Benjamin Fai'ley, one of the first 
settlers of the town. Miss Farley deceased July 27, 1875, leaving 
by her will a legacy to the town of near $10,000, the annual interest 
of which was to be used for the support of a High School for the 
benefit of the whole town, on condition that the town would accept 
it by providing within two years from her decease a suitable site and 
buildings for such a school near the centre of the town, and also for 
the future would take proper care of her family burial lot in the 
south burial ground. If the town should not accept the legacy with 
the conditions annexed to it, then it was to be paid to the Trustees 
of the New Hampshire Orphans' Home at Franklin. 

On the 14th of May, 1S76, a special town meeting was held to 
consider this bequest, at which the town voted to accept it, and at 
the same meeting voted to provide a school-house in compliance 
with the conditions of the will. At a subsequent town meeting, on 
the second day of September following, it was voted to organize the 
town into a High School District in accordance with the State law. 

Afterwards, at a meeting of the Union School District in the 
November following, that district voted for a nominal consideration, 
to convey to the High School District one equal undivided half of 
its school lot, and the whole of the second story of its school build- 
ing for the use and accommodation of the High School, with all 
such appertaining rights and privileges as would be proper and 
needful for its occupation for school purposes. This vote on the 7th 
of January, 1877, was consummated and made effectual by a deed of 
the premises made by the Union District to the High School Dis- 
trict, to the acceptance of the latter. A high school for the benefit 
of the youth of the whole town has thus been fortunately provided 
and made permanent, and now for near two years has been in 
successful operation. 



282 SKETCH OF MISS FARLEY. 

MISS MARY SHERWIN F^ARLEY, 

(By Gen.^T. S., her cousin.) 

daughter of Capt. Christopher P. and Mary (Sherwin) Farley, was 
born in Hollis, Nov. 2, 1813. Her iather was a grandson of Lt. 
Benjamin Farley, one of the earliest settlers in Hollis, and followed 
the business of tanning, by which he acquired an ample estate, 
and was justly esteemed for his uprightness and sound judgment. 
January 18, 1813, he married Mary Sherwin, daughter of David 
Sherwin, of New Ipswich, who died about two weeks after the 
birth of her daughter. Left so soon a widower, the aflcctions and 
hopes of the father, perhaps, turned the more strongly to his child, 
whose life in her infancy seemed to hang upon the mo;4t slender 
thread. In her early years she was most tenderly cared for by a 
sister of her father. Her health, exceedingly frail and delicate from 
her birth, was never vigorous. In her girlhood, she could rarely 
join in the pastimes of those of her own age, nor was she ever able 
to attend regularly upon the school terms, though for one year, 
when of the age of lifteen, she was placed in a boarding school. 

While her father lived, the two were almost constant companions. 
She accompanied him in his walks and rides, became familiar with 
his interests and business — in this way gaining practical knowledge 
and habits of thought, which helped to form her character, and w'ere 
of great value to her. After the death of her father, July 22, 1848, 
(a loss to her that few can realize), she continued to live at tlie 
paternal homestead till her deatli, July 27, 1875. 

Occupied with the care of her pleasant farm, busying herself in 
the culture of flowers, making occasional journeys to visit friends, 
and oftener in the hope of gaining health and strength, she passed 
a life, though not eventful, yet marked through its whole course by 
acts of kindness and charity. In matters of business she was me- 
thodical and exact, manifesting more than usual insight and good 
judgment in the management of her aflairs. But above all it was 
her aim to be just to others. She was in the highest degree con- 
scientious, and would at any time sacrifice her own interest rather 
than that another should sutler w rong. 

Her memory of persons and events was uncommonly cjuick and 
retentive. Matters of history gained from her reading were rarely 
forgotten. Her recollection of dates and places was somewhat phe- 
nomenal, and she often surprised her friends by recounting events 
in their own lives, which had quite escaped the memory of all but 
herself. 




^-^^^^ ^ y^^^-t^-y_ 



THE HOLLIS I.IBRARY. 283 

Firm and sincere in her friendships, she attracted to herself all 
those of her acquaintance who knew her sufficiently well to appre- 
ciate the kindliness, generosity and purity of her character. No- 
where could a more cordial hospitality be found than in her pleas- 
ant old fashioned homestead, standing amidst fertile, well cultivated 
acres, and shaded by the huge buttonwood in the door yard. 

She had a strong affection for children and young people — en- 
joyed having them about her — entered into their sports and plans — 
encouraged their eflbrts for improvement and often gave them sub- 
stantial aid. She was at all times deeply interested in the prosj^er- 
ity and welfare of her native town, and especially in its public 
schools, and besides her other benefactions for them, during life, 
bequeathing by her last will, as we have seen, a fund of near 
$10,000 for the endowment and permanent support of a High 
school. In addition to other charitable benefactions bequeathed by 
her will, was a legacy of $5,000 to the funds of the New Hamp- 
shire Orphan Asylum at Franklin. 

THE HOLLIS SOCIAL LIBRARY. 

The Hollis Social Library, so called, was incorporated by an act 
of the General Court, June 11, i799i '^"d is believed to be one of 
the oldest associations of the kind in the State. The corporators 
named in the charter were Rev. Daniel Emerson, then in his 84th 
year, Rev. Eli Smith, Noah Worcester and Daniel Emerson, Jun., 
who, with their associates, w^ere made a body corporate, with per- 
petual succession, with power to establish and maintain a lil^rary, 
and to make all needful rules and by-laws in respect to it. The 
original capital was $1,000 — since increased by an amendment of 
the charter to $50,000. The two last-named corporators were au- 
thorized to call the first meeting, and under this chart r a small 
library of from one hundred to three hundred well chosen books 
was soon collected, which number has since been increased to 
between nineteen hundred and two thousand bound volumes, besides 
pamphlets. 

The officers of the Association consist of a President, three Direc- 
tors, Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian, chosen annually. Any 
inhabitant of the town could become a member of the Association, 
and entitled to the privileges of the library, upon paying an initia- 
tion fee of fifty cents, being afterwards chargeable with an annual 
tax of twentv-five cents, afterwards increased to fiftv cents. The 



284 HOLLIS LYCEUM. 

number of names now on the list of membership is one hundred and 
sixty-seven. This library for many years after its establishment was 
kept at the house of the librarian, elected from time to time, but 
since the year 185 1 it has been kept in a room, provided and fur- 
nished for it liy its directors, in the Congregational meeting-house. 
The books furnished to the people of Hollis from this library have 
been of great use to them, from the time of its foimdation, in the 
promotion of useful knov^dedge and in cultivating and supplying a 
taste for reading among the inhabitants generally, the extent of 
which may in some measure be seen from the fact stated in one of 
the last annual reports, that in the preceding year there had been 
given out to be read between twenty-four hundred and twenty-five 
hundred volumes, the same book, however, in many instances, 
having been given out more than once. 

THE HOLLIS LYCEUM AND PUBLIC LECTURES. 

During most of the winters since 185 1, either lyceums or courses 
of public lectures have been maintained in Hollis for the intellec- 
tual entertainment and improvement of its citizens. The constitu- ■ 
tion of the lyceum has commonly provided for a monthly election 
of its officers, and also for its exercises, including select readings 
and recitations, vocal and instrumental music, a discussion of some 
topic or question of general interest to its members, and a paper, 
known as the "Lyceum Reporter," edited by some of its lady mem- 
bers, appointed for that purpose. The exercises of this association 
have usually been public. Separate committees have ordinarily 
provided for the selection of the subjects for these exercises, and the 
assignment and acceptance of their various parts, and when these 
duties of the committees have been faithfully performed, the public 
interest in them has been so general as to insure a large attendance 
at the meetings. 

The public lectures have commonly been provided for by volun- 
tary subscriptions of the citizens, and have been free to all who 
wished to attend them. They have embraced a great variety of 
subjects of interest, and some of the lecturers engaged have been 
persons of distinction in this and other States. Also a club for the 
rehearsal and acting of dramas has occasionally existed, and public 
entertainments given by it, highly creditable to the performers, and 
very acceptable to the audiences. This club at present numbers 
about fifty members. 



GRADUATES OF COLLEGES. 



285 



GRADUATES OK COLLEGE FROM HOLUS, WITH THE YEARS OF 
THEIR GRADUATION. 



Graduates of Harvard College. 



Peter Powers, 




'754 




Joseph E. Smith, 


i8<H 


Josiah Goodhue, 




'7SS 




Benjamin Burge, 


1805 


Henry Cumings, 




1760 




Samuel E. Smith, 


1808 


Joseph Emerson, 




'774 




John Proctor, 


1813 


Samuel Emerson, 




17SS 




George F. Farley, 


1816 


Josiah Burge, 




.787 




William P. Kendrick, 


1816 


Daniel Emerson, Jun., 




'794 




Taylor G. Worcester, 


1823 


Joseph Emerson, 2cl, 




179S 




Jonathan Saunderson, 


1828 


Manasseh Smith, 




1806 




Samuel T. Worcester, 


1830 


Jacob A. Cumings, 




iSoi 




Frederick A. Worcester, 


.831 


Benjamin M. Farley, 




1S04 




Francis J. Worcester, 


1870 


Graduates of 


Tale College. 




Ralph Emerson, 




iSii 




Joseph Emerson, 


1830 


Joseph E. Worcester, 




iSii 




Benjamin F. Farley, 


183a 


Henry A. Worcester, 




1828 




Ralph H. Cutter, 


1858 


Graduates 


of Da, 


rtmouth College. 




Samuel Worcester, 




1795 




Noah Hardy, 


1813 


Abel Farley, 




179S 




Luke Eastman, 


i8ia 


Mighill Blood, 




1800 




David P. Smith, 


1823 


CalebJ. Tenney, 




1801 




William P. Eastman. 


184a 


David Jewett, 




1801 




Charles Cummings, 


.842 


Jonathan B. Eastman, 




1S03 




Charles H. Mooar, 


1848 


Nehemiah Hardy, Jun., 




1803 




Edward F. Johnson, 


.864 


Stephen Farley, Jun., 




18O4 




Joseph B. Parker, 


1869 


William Tenney, Jun., 




1808 




John H. Hardy, 


1870 


Eli Smith, Jun., 




1809 




Franklin Worcester, 


1870 


Leonard Jewett, 




iSio 




Charles L. Day, 


1877 


Grant Powers, 




iSio 




George W. Saunderson, 


'877 


Gradua 


tes 


of Middlebury College. 




Fifield Holt, 




iSio 




Solomon Hardy, 


1834 


Graduates 0/ 


A 


niherst College. 




Thomas A. Farley, 




■83S 




Amos F. Shattuck, 


'859 


Gradui 


ates 


of Brown University. 




Daniel Kendrick, 




1810 




Luther Smith, 


1834 


Graduates 


of 


Maryville College., Tenn. 




Phillips W*ood, 




.831 




Leonard Wood, 


1832 



Greenville., Tettn. bnion^ N. T. 

Eli N, Sawtell, i8»3 Benjamin F. Emerson, 1830 

Of the sixty-two college graduates named above thirty-three 
studied Theology, four Medicine, twenty-three became Lawyers or 
are now studying law, one an Author, one an Author and Book- 
seller, and one an army officer. 



286 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF HOLLIS GRADUATES OF COLLEGES. 

GRADUATES OF HARVARD AND YALE. 

REV. PETER POWERS, 

the first Hollis college graduate, was the son of Capt. Peter Pow- 
ers, the first settler of Hollis, and Anna (Ke3"es) Powers, was born in 
old Dunstable, November 39, 1728, and came with his father to 
that part of Dunstable, afterwards known as Hollis, in 1730. He 
graduated at Harvard College in 1754. Rev. Grant Powers, his 
nephew, in his '• History of the Coos Country," sa3's of his uncle, 
" that in his early youth, he had a very strong desire for a college 
education, a wish in respect to which he had often spoken to his 
parents. But his parents had other plans for their son, and, regard- 
ing his project for such an education as a vision of youth that 
would soon pass away, gave him no encouragement. Young Peter, 
afterwards, for a considerable time remained silent in respect to the 
matter, till at length, one evening, he was found to be missing at 
the customary nine o'clock family prayers, and remained absent the 
whole night. Early the next morning, the father upon going out 
of the door saw his son just coming out of the woods. He, how- 
ever, put off calling upon Peter for an explanation of his absence 
till the close of his family morning prayers, when in presence of 
the whole family the Captain asked his son, " W/iere he had 
passed the night.'''' " In the -voods^^ answered the 3-outh. " And 
what were yon doing i)i the wr^t*^/.?.^" asked the father. ^'•Iwas 
praying.^" said the son. "• And for zvhat were you praying?''' 
continued the Captain. '' 7 hat I might go to college " replied 
Peter. " And for xvhat do yojt icish to go to college'?" added the 
father. " That I may prepare 7nysclf to preach the Gospel'^ re- 
joined the youth. 

Capt. Powers was so moved by these answers, that for the time 
he was unable to say more, but upon Peter's leaving the room he 



GRADUATES OF COLLEGES. " 287 

said to his wife, " Anna, I don't see but that we must give up the 
point, and let Peter go to college." The result was a collegiate 
education, and a life of eminent usefulness. 

Mr. Powers graduated at the age of twenty- two, and in June 
1755, the year after he left college, he received his first call to settle 
in the ministry at New Ipswich. After some negotiation this call 
was finally declined, and the next year he was settled as pastor 
of the church in the parish of Newent, Connecticut, then a part 
of the town of Norwich. He remained at Newent till 1764? when 
he was dismissed, and early the next year was settled as pastor 
of a church and society in the towns of Haverhill, New Hamp- 
shire, and Newbury, Vermont. His connection with this society 
continued till 1784, when he was dismissed, and the year after was 
settled as pastor of the church in Deer Isle, Maine, where he died, 
May 13, iSoo, set. 71. In a biographical sketch of Mr. Powers, in 
Volume II. of the New Hampshire Collections, it is said of him, 
"that he was a faithful and discriminating preacher, and possessed 
of superior talents." 

Publications of Mr. Powers. — An Installation sermon preached 
by himself with the following title, " A sermon preached at Holies, 
February 27, 1765, at the Installation of Rev. Peter Powers, A. M.^ 
for the towns of Newbury and Haverhill, at a place called Coos^ in 
the Province of New Hampshire, b^^ myself^ published at the de- 
sire of many that heard it, to whom it is Humbly dedicated." Also 
a sermon preached at the funeral of D. Bailey, 1772.* 

REV. JOSL-VH GOODHUE, 

the second Hollis college graduate, was the son of Dea. Samuel 
and Abigail (Bartlett) Goodhue, born 1735. His father was among 
the early settlers of Hollis, but his family register is not found in the 
town records. Allen in his "American Biographies " and Farmer in 
his '• New Hampshire Gazetteer" speak of the son as having been 
born in Hollis. He graduated in 1755, at the age of 20, and was 
first settled as pastor of the Congregational church in Dunstable, 
Mass., June 8, 1757, at the age of twenty-two. Dismissed by a 
mutual council, September 28, 1774, and recommended by it " as a 
person of conspicuous seriousness and piety. "f He aiterwards 
settled as pastor of a church in Poultney, Vt., where he died Novem- 
ber, 1797? set. 62. 

*See Allen's Am. Biographies, p. 625, and History of the Coos Country, hy Rev. G. Powers. 
jAllen's Am. Biographies, p. 3S6. 



288 BIOGRAPllICAJ. SKKTCHES. 

REV. HENRY CUMMINGS,* D. D., 

was the son of Ensign Jerahmael and Hannah (Farwell) Cummings, 
and was born in Hollis, September i6, 1739. His father, Ensign 
Cumings, was from Groton, (</. v. p. r3i.) and died October 25, 
1747, leaving his widow with five young children, of whom the old- 
est was ten years of age, and the youngest, an infant. He prepared 
for college in Hollis, with Rev. Mr. Emerson, and graduated in 
1760 at the age of twenty-one. 

In Rev. Dr. Sprague's "Biographies of the American Pulpit" it 
is said that " the mother of Dr. Cummings was a woman of dis- 
tinguished piety — of great strength of character and greatly devoted 
to her children. That some years after the death of her husband 
she received proposals for a second marriage which she accepted. 
But shortly before the contemplated wedding, the prospective 
bridegroom intimated to her, that he did not expect her children 
would come with her to the new home, and asked her how she ex- 
pected to dispose of them .'' To this questi )n the mother promptly 
replied : ' If you do not take my children you cannot take me. I 
have a mother's duty to perform for them and by God's help I shall 
perform it,' and immediately gave her suitor leave to retire." 

Young Cummings early gave such indications of so vigorous a 
mind as to attract the attention of his pastor. Rev. Mr. Emerson, and 
to justify unusual efforts to gjve him a collegiate education, and so as 
to induce Mr. Emerson personally to take charge of his preparatory 
studies. He entered college in 1756 and maintained a high rank 
both for scholarship and good conduct. As pleasant evidence of 
the esteem in which he was held at home, it is shown by the Hollis 
church records that in the last year of his course, the Hollis church 
contributed £^0 O. T. towards his college expenses. 

He left college at the age of twenty-one, and but a few months 
after was invited to preach in Boston, and elsewhere, and soon be- 
came one of the most popular preachers of the time. In the fall of 
1762, at the age of twenty-two, he had a call to settle as pastor of 
the church in Billerica, Mass., which he accepted, and was ordained 
at Billerica, January 26, 1763. The sermon at his ordination was 
preached by his old friend and pastor, Rev. Mr. Emerson, from 



*This name which very often occurs in the old Hollis records is in them uniformly spelt 
with but a single "M," "Cumings." The same name, for the last fifty years or more, ha* 
been more commonly spelt " Cummings," doubling the " M." 



GRADUATES OF HARVARD COLLEGE. 289 

Heb. xiii : 17. He was the only minister of Billerica from 1763 to ■ 
1814, fifty-two years, when Rev. Nathaniel Wliitman was settled as 
his colieagne. 

After his ordination, Dr. Cummings devoted himself to his 
studies with great assiduity, became an excellent classical scholar, 
and so well versed in the Hebrew, as not only to read, but also to 
write it with ease. During the Revolution, he was an earnest 
friend of Independence, and //?, as well as 0/// of the pulpit, labored 
to difluse the spirit of patriotism and to give strength to the new 
government. 

He is described as having been a fine specimen of physical, 
moral and mental nobility. His countenance evinced a high order 
of intelligence and dignity. His excellent social qualities rendered 
him a most agreeable companion, and he did not withhold his sym- 
pathy and kindness even from the unworthy. His public discourses 
were characterized with great boldness of style and delivered with 
a voice of much power. Among his published writings are • the 
following: •• Thanksgiving Sermons", 1766, 1775, 17S5 and 1799. 
''Public Fast," iSoi. Sermon at the -'Anniversary of the Battle of 
Lexington," and also ■• General Election" sermon, 17S3. Sermons 
on "Natural Religion," 1795, also in 1796. At the ordination of 
Rev. Caleb Bradley, iSoo. "'Eulogy on Washington," iSoi. 
''Charity" sermon at Roxbury, iSo3. ^■'Half Century" sermon at 
Billerica, 1S13. Received the honorary degree of D. D. from Har- 
vard College, iSoo. Died at Baltimore, Maryland, September 5, 
1823. xt. 84 nearly.* 

REV. JOSEPH EMERSON, 

son ot Rev. Daniel and Hannah Emerson, born in Hollis, Septem- 
ber 28, 1759, and graduated at Harvard college in 1776, at the age 
of seventeen. He studied for the ministry with his father in Hollis, 
and died in Hollis, July zy, 17S1, in his twenty-second year. For 
sometime previous to his death, he had preached as a candidate and 
had accepted a call to settle in the ministry as pastor of the Con- 
gregational church and society in Temple, New Hamj^shire, but 
was taken sick and died but a short time before his expected ordina- 
tion. It is said that the chmxh at Temple, in manifestation of their 
esteem and affection for him, attended his funeral at Hollis in a 

♦Spragne's American Unitarian P\ilpit. pp. 55, jfi. Allen's American Biography, p. i'}^. 

(19) 



390 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

body. The following tribute to his memory, expressixe of his 
character, is inscribed on his gravestone in Hollis. 

"Joseph Emerson, 

Son of Rev. Daniel and Mrs. Hannah Emerson, 

Born September 2S, 17S9. 

Rcc'd the degree of A. B. in 1776, and the degree of A. M. 

at Harvard University in 1779. 

Possessed of good mental powers and disposition. 

Sedate, Contemplative and Studious, 

A dutiful son, an affectionate brother, a respectable scholar, 

An agreeable companion, a faithful and benevolent man. 

An Exemplary Christian, a solid and devotional preacher. 

Died July 27, 17S1, in the 22d year of his age. 

Much lamented, not only by the family but by a numerous 

Circle of friends and acquaintances, particularly the 

Cliurch and Congregation at Temple, who had given 

him an invitation to settle with them in the work of ^ 

the Gospel Ministry. His mortal part here deposited 

Rests until it rises in glorv and immortalitv." 



DR. SAMUEL EMERSOX 

was the 6th son of Dca. Daniel and Hannah Emerson, born in 
Hollis, vSeptember 6, 1764. In 1779, when in his fifteenth year, he 
enlisted as a fifer in a company commanded by his brother, Capt. 
Daniel Emerson, in the regiment of Col. Hercules Mooney. After 
the war he fitted for college with his father, and graduated at Har- 
vard college in 17S5. He sul)sequently studied medicine, and set- 
tled as a physician in Kenncbunkport, Maine. Dr. Emerson was 
highly educated, an excellent English and classical scholar, and is 
said to have retained his taste and interest in classical literature till 
his death. He was also very fond of music, and played well on the 
violin, flute, clarionet and organ. He had a laborious and exten- 
sive practice, and was much distinguished and very popular in his 
profession, but it is said of him that he could never lie persuaded to 
send a bill for his services to a poor man. Died at Kenncbunk- 
port, August 7, 185 1, in his eighty-seventh year. Gecn-ge B. Emer- 
son, A. A. vS.. a graduate of Harvard college in 1S17. an eminent 
Boston teacher, naturalist, and author, and for several years Presi- 
dent of the Boston Society of Natural History, was a son of Dr. 
Emerson. 

REV. JOSIAII BURGE. 

son of Ephraim and Anna (Abbot) Burge, born in Hollis, April 15, 
1766. Graduated at Harvard college, 1787, at the age of twenty- 
one. Studied for the ministry with the Rev. Seth Payson, D. D., at 



GRADUATES OF HARVARD COLLEGE. 29 1 

Rindge, N. H., and was licensed to preach; but after having 
preached about nine months, his health failed, and he died at Hollis, 
March 34, 1790, in his 24th year. 

REV. DANIEL EMERSON, }vs., 

son of Dca. Daniel and Ama (Fletcher) Emerson, born in Hollis, 
Jidy 15, 177^' Graduated at Harvard college, i794- For several 
years after leaving college, he engaged in business as a merchant, 
first in Charlestown, Mass., and afterwards in Hollis, and was 
Town Clerk and First Selectman in Hollis in the years 1802, 1803, 
1S04 and 1S05. He afterwards studied for the ministry with his 
brother. Rev. Joseph Emerson, at Beverly, Mass., and began to 
preach in 1S06. He was ordained as pastor of the Congregational 
church at Dartmouth, Mass., October 14, 1807, and died at 
Dartmouth. November 16, 1S08, a:;t. 36. Two of his sons, 
Benjamin F. and Joseph, were college graduates. (^. v.) 

REV. JOSEPH. EMERSON, 3D., 

son of Dea. Daniel and Ama (Fletcher) Emerson, born in Hollis, 
October 13, 1777, and graduated at Harvard college, 1798. After 
graduating, he was for a time college tutor at Harvard. He studied 
Theology with Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, D. D., of Franklin, Mass. 
Was ordained as pastor of the Congregational church at Beverly, 
Mass., September 21, 1803; resigned his pastorate at Beverly, 
September 31, 1816 ; removed to Byfield, Mass., in iSiS, and the 
same year established there a seminary for the higher education of 
voung ladies. In 1821 he removed to Saugus, Mass., and estab- 
lished his seminar}' at that place, and remained in vSaugus till 1824. 
preaching in the meantime on the Sabbath. In the latter part of 
the year last named, in compliance with an invitation of the people 
of Wethersfield, Conn., through his townsman and friend, Rev. C. 
J. Tenney, D. D., his seminary was removed to Wethersfield, 
which he continued to conduct with great acceptance at that place, 
till about a year before his death. He was reputed an excellent and 
accomplished scholar, and a faithful and popular teacher. His 
seminary had a wide reputation, and is believed to have been the 
first institution of the kind in New England. Mr. Emerson died 
at Wethersfield, May 13, 1833, ^^- 55- -^^ interesting biography 
of him by his brother. Prof. Ralph Emerson, vvas published in 1834. 
Mr. Emer.son was the author of several publications, among 



■ZCJl BKXJRAlMtlCAL SKETCHES. 

which was the " E\an<^clical Primer," iSio; •' Writings of Miss 
Fanny Woodbury, w'ith Notes," 1814 ; ''Lectures on the Millen- 
ium," 1819; ''The Union Catechism," 1S21 ; " Poetic Reader," 1S31. 

MAXASSEH SMITH, JUX., ATTORNEY AT LAW, 

the oldest son of Manasseh and Hannah (Emerson) vSmith, was 
born in Hollis, August 16, i779- Graduated at Plarvard college in 
1800. Afterwarils read law and settled in liis profession in 
Wiscasset, Maine, where he tlied in 1823, ret. 43. 

JACOB ABBOT CUMMIXOS, AUTHOR AND BOOKSELLER, 

son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Abbot) Cummings, was bora in 
Hollis, November 3, 1773. His fiither enlisted in the Continental 
Army in April, 1777, and died in the service the next year. Mr. 
Cummings graduated at Harvard college in iSoi. After leaving 
college lie liecame a teacher for several years, and afterwards a 
bookseller and publisher, and a member of the well-known Boston 
pulilishing liouse of Cummings and Hilliard. He was also the 
author of several elementary educational works, among which were 
"New Testament Qiiestion," published in 1817, and a "Spelling 
Hook" and " vSchool (jeography Ancient and Modern," with an 
atlas." His publications for schools were highly esteemed, and his 
industry, useful labors, and amiable qualities procured him much 
respect.* 

LJEXJAMIX M. FARLEY, ATTORXEV AT LAW, 

son of Benjamin and Lucy (Fletcher) Farley, and grandson of Lt. 
Samuel Farley, one of tlie first settlers of Hollis, was born April 
8, 17S3, in that part of Hollis afterwards set olf to Brookline. Mr. 
Farley prepared for college at the academy in New Ipswich ; grad- 
uated at Harvard college in 1S04; read law with Hon. Abijah Bige- 
low in Leominster, Mass. ; admitted to the bar and settled in his 
profession in Hollis in iSoS. and continued to reside in Hollis till 
1855, when he removed to Boston. Upon being established in his 
profession, he soon rose to a high rank in it, and for many years he 
had no superior at the Hillsborough liar, of which he was for sev- 
eral years president. 

Distiiiguished for his legal ability, as well as for his iidelity to his 
clients, he spared no pains in the pi'eparation of their cases for the 
court, and it is said of him that he made the cases of his clients so 



^Allen's American Bi'nor;i)iliif^ 



GHADUATES OF HARXART) COJJ.EG?:. 393 

much his o\\ n, that he examined \vitnesses. and adchessscd the jui"\ 
as if himself personally were on trial. In the popular acceptation 
of the term, Mr. Farley was not noted for eloquence. He relied 
more for his eminent success upon a carefully arranged and lucid 
statement of the evidence to the jury, and a clear presentation of his 
points of law to the court, than upon figures of rhetoric, or appeals 
to sympathy, and his presentation, both of the evidence and law, 
were made so clear and distinct that neither the jury nor court could 
misunderstand him. 

Mr. Farley was not onh industrious, faithful and prompt, but 
what he undertook to do he did with his might. His temperament 
was not impulsive, but having once settled upon his course, he was 
not easily diverted from it. If it required loss of sleep or exposvu'e 
to heat or cold, he was ready to meet them, and he knew no such 
thing as failure if by his personal efforts success were attainable. 
He had so trained himself to these habits from early life that he 
seemed hardly conscious that advancing years had lessened his 
strength, and as he approached the age of fourscore it could hardly 
be perceived that '' his eye had become dim, or his natural force 
abated." He was naturally conservative, and this trait of his char- 
acter grew upon him with his years. He had accjuired an ample 
competence by his profession, yet in his pecuniary investments he 
made no ventures, nor did he readily become a convert to new teach- 
ings in education, morals, or social changes. He does not in any 
part of his life seem to have been an eager aspirant for political 
office or distinction. Though decided and outspoken in his political 
preferences and optnions he had but little taste for party politics, 
yet his standing and personal popularity with his fellow townsmen 
are shown by the fact that between the years 1S09 and 1S44 he was 
twenty-five times chosen a member of the vSchool Committee, and 
from 1S14 to 1S39 he was elected in fifteen difibrent 3'ears to repre- 
sent the town in the General Court. As a member of the legisla- 
ture Mr. Farle\- was highly respected, and, though in his political 
relations often in the minority, he ne\er failed to exert an important 
influence upon its deliberations. His ability as a lawyer was well 
known and felt, and being often on the judiciary committee of the 
House, it is said that some of our important statute laws originated 
with him. Knowing himself but too well the evils and uncertainties 
of litigation, as well as its expense, Mr. Farley was in the habit of 
dissuading his own townsmen from engaging in it. Owing in great 



294 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

part to this cause, it is said that the people of HoUis were but sel- 
dom represented in the courts. His wise counsel in this direction 
rarely failed of success, he not wishing to add to his own fortune at 
the cost of the peace of his neighbors. Died at Lunenburg. Mass., 
September i6, 1S65, iet. Sz. 

JOSEPH E. SAHTH, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 

son of Manasseh and Hannah (Emerson) Smith, born in Hollis, 
March 6, 17S2. Graduated at Harvard college 1S04. Read law 
and settled in his profession in Boston. Mr. vSmith is reputed to 
have been well read in his profession, an al)le and successful advo- 
cate, and highly esteemed for his integrity and moral worth. Died 
1837, St. 55. 

BENJAMIN BURGE, M. D., 

son of Ephraim and Anna (Abbot) Burge, born in Hollis, iVugust 
5, 1782. Graduated at Harvard college in 1805. Was for a time 
a tutor at Bowdoin college, and received the honorary degree o^ 
A. M., at Bowdoin in 1S15. He studied medicine and settled in his 
profession in Vassalborough, Maine. Died in Hollis, June 11, 
1816, ast. 33. 

SAMUEL E. SMITH, ATTORNEY AT LAW, ' 

son of Manasseh and Hannah (Emerson) Smith, and grandson of 
Rev. Daniel Emerson, born in Hollis, March 13, 17SS. Graduated 
at Harvard college in 180S. He held a high rank in his class, and 
graduated withdistinguished honors. He read law with the Hon. 
Samuel Dana, of Groton, Mass., and with his brother, Joseph E„ 
Smith, in Boston. He was admitted to the l)ar in Boston in iSi2? 
and afterwards settled in his profession in Wiscasset, Maine. Mr. 
Smith was a member of the General Court of Massachusetts in 
1819, and of that in Maine in 1820, and was a Judge of the Court of 
Common Pleas of Maine from 1822 to 1830. He was elected 
Governor of Maine in the years 1831, 1832 and 1833 ; and was re- 
appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 183^, resigned in 
1837, '^^^^^ ^^^^ same year was appointed one of tlic Commissioners 
to revise the vStatutes of Maine. 

In an obituary notice in the Harvard Necrology it is said of him. 
" that he was unostentatious in his intercourse with his fellow citi- 
zens — honest in all his dealings — exemplary in his habits and re- 
spected by all who knew liim." Died at Wiscasset, March 3. 1S60. 
ajt. 71. 



GRADUATES OF HARVARD COLLEGE. 295 

JOHN PROCTOR, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 

son of Cyrus and Sybil (Farnsworth) Proctor, was born January 
28, 1787. Graduated at Harvard college in 1813. Read law and 
settled as an attorney at law in Rockport, Indiana. Died at Rock- 
port in 1844, vei. 57. 

GEORGE F. FARLEY, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 

son of Benjamin and Lucy (Fletcher) Farley, was born April 5, 

1793, and graduated at Harvard college in 1816. He read law in 
the office of his brother, Hon. B. M. Farley, of Hollis, and Hon. 
Luther Lawrence, of Groton, Mass., and was admitted to the bar, 
and commenced the practice of his profession at New Ipswich in 
1821. In the year 1831, he was a member of the New Hampshire 
General Court from New Ipswich, and the same year removed to 
Groton, Mass., and practised his profession, with distinguished 
ability and success till his death at that place, November 8, 1855, 
tet. 62. Several years before his death, Mr. Farley established a 
law office in Boston, and was regarded as one of the most eloquent 
and able lawyers at the Massachusetts bar. 

REV. WILLLYM P. KENDRICK, 

son of Capt. Daniel and Mary (Pool) Kendrick, born June 20, 

1794, graduated at Harvard college in 1S16, and at the Theo- 
logical seminary at Andover, Massachusetts, in 1S19. He was 
ordained as a home missionary in 1823, and for many years after- 
wards was employed'as a home missionary or *•' stated supply" in 
western New York, and at length removed to the .State of Illinois, 
and became pastor of a church at Bristol in that .State, where he 
died November 5. 1S54, ivt. 50. 

TAYLOR G. WORCESTER. 

son of Jesse and Sarah (Parker) Worcester, born April 6. 1799. 
Graduated at Harvard college in 1823, at Andover Theological 
seminaiy in 1827, and was licensed to preach the same year. He 
afterwards preached in several places in New HamjDshire and 
Massachusetts, but was never settled in the ministry. He still ( 1S79) 
resides in Hollis on the old ancestral homestead. While in college 
and at Andover he became interested in the doctrines of the New 
Jerusalem church as taught in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, 
and was the editor of a revised translation of the work of that 



396 RIOGRAPJllCAI, SKETCHES. 

author, entitled the " True Cluistiau Religion," and also aided in 
the revision of the translation of some of the smaller works of the 
same author. 

JONATHAN SAUNDERSON, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 

son of Jonathan and Lucy (Pool) Saunderson, born December 30, 
1S02, prepared for college at the academy at Westford, Mass., and 
graduated at Harvard college in 182S. Read law in Hollis with 
Hon. B. M. Farley and at the law school in Cambridge, ;ind 
settled in the practice of his profession in Philadelphia. 

SAMUEL T. WORCESTER, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 

son of Jesse and Sarah (Parker) Worcester, born August 30, 1804, 
prepared for college at the academies in Pembroke, N. H., and An- 
dover, Mass., and graduated at Harvard college in 1830. After 
leaving college, taught an academy for one year at Weymouth, 
Mass., and also for one year at Cambridge. Read law in the ofHce 
of Hon. B. M. Farley in Hollis. and also at the law school in- Cam- 
bridge, settled in his profession in Norwalk, Ohio, in 183 1;^ and 
continued in the practice of the law in that place till the summer of 
1867, when he removed to Nashua, N. H., where he still resides 
(1879). May 13, 1S35, married Mary F. C. Wales, daughter of 
Samuel Wales, Esq., of Stoughton, Mass., who deceased at Nashua, 
April 29, 1S74. Was a member of the Ohio Senate in the years 
1S49 and 1850; elected district judge of the loth Ohio judicial 
district in October, 1S59, and while holding that office was elected 
a member of the United States Congress in the spring of 1861. 
Publications : 1831, " Sequel to the Spelling Book ;" 1833, "Amer- 
ican Primary Spelling Book;" 1 87 1, Revised Editions of " Wor- 
cester's Comprehensive and Primary Dictionaries;" 1871, "Old 
and New, or the School Systems of Ohio and New Hampshire 
compared." 

FREDERICK A. WORCESTER, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 

son of Jesse and Sarah (Parker) Worcester, born Januarv 38, 1807 ; 
prepared for college in part at the Pinkerton Academy, in Derry, 
New Hampshire, and in part at the Phillips Academy, in Andover ; 
graduated at Harvard college in 1S31. Read law with Hon. B. 
M. Farley in Hollis and at the law school in Cambridge, admitted 
to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Bangor, Maine, 




/ 






c/yc^/Lo^ 



GPvAI^UATES OF VALE COELEGK. 297 

in 1S34. Soon afterwards removed to Townsend, Massachusetts, 
where he still resides and yet continues (1S79) in the successful 
practice of his profession. | 

KKAXCJS }. WORCESTER, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 

son of Taylor G, and Lucy (Bell) Worcester, born in Hollis, No- 
vember I, 1848. graduated at Harvard college in 1870. Read law 
in New York city, and was there admitted to the bar, and com- 
menced the practice of his profession in 1877, and still resides in 
New York. 

GRADUATES OF "iALE COLLEGE. 
JOSEI'II E. WORCESTER, L. L. D., 

son of Jesse and Sarah (Parker) Worcester, was born in Bedford, 
N. H., August 24, 1784, and in 1794, when in his tenth year, came 
to Hollis with his parents. His youth, till the age of majority, was 
passed in agricultural labor on his father's farm in Hollis, but he 
early manifested an ardent love of knowledge and availed himself of 
every attainable means for mental improvement. After reaching his 
majority he prepared himself for college, partly at the academy in 
Salisbury, N. H., and in part at Phillips Academy in Andover, and 
entered the sophomore class at Yale in 1S09, and graduated at Yale 
in 181 1. After leaving college he was for several years employed 
as a teacher of a private school at Salem. Mass., he afterwards passed 
two years at Andover, Mass., and in 1819 removed to Cambridge, 
where he devoted himself to literary pursuits, and to the prepara- 
tion for the press of his numerous and valuable publications, till his 
decease, October 37. 1865, a;t. 81. He was married June 29, 1841, 
to Amy Elizabeth ISIcKean, (who still survives), daughter of Rev. 
Joseph McKean. D. D., formerlv Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory 
at Harvard college. 

The first literar}- work of Dr. Worcester was his "Universal Ga- 
zetteer, Ancient and Modern," in two volumes octavo, of near 1000 
pages each, published at Andover in 1817 : the next a " Gazetteer of 
the United States," one volume octavo, of 373 pages, published in 
1818. This was followed in iSi9by his " Elements of Geography, 
Ancient and Modern, with an Atlas," a work that was received 
with such favor that it passed through several stereotype editions. 
In 1823 this Geography was succeeded by an illustrated work in two 
volumes duodecimo, entitled " Sketches of the Earth and its 



298 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Inhabitants." In 182^ upon being elected a member of the 
American Academy, he communicated to that association an elabo- 
rate essay, entitled, " Remarks upon Longevity," which was pub- 
lished with the memoirs of the academy. His ''Elements of 
Ancient and Modern History," witli an " Historical Atlas," ap- 
peared in 1S26, a work from that time to the present very exten- 
sively used as a standard text book in our puldic high schools and 
academies. 

His first work in lexicography was an edition of •' Johnson's 
Dictionary, combined with Walkers's Pronunciation," an octavo 
volume of 1156 pages, first publishcti in 1S2S. In 1S29, against his 
own Inclination, he was induced, through the persistent urgency of 
the publisher of Webster's Qiiarto Dictionary (who was his personal 
friend) to prepare an abridgement of that work, a task to which he 
was strongly averse, and at first refused, a refusal to which he after- 
wards regretted that he did not adhere. This work appeared in 
1S30, in an octavo volume of 1071 pages, into which he incorpo- 
rated much valuable matter which he had prepared for his own 
dictionaries. The same year he published the first edition of his 
"Comprehensive Dictionary," a duodecimo volume of 420 pages. 
This work was the first of his own dictionaries, and at once had an 
extensive sale and soon passed through many editions. 

In 1831 he made a voyage to Europe where he spent many 
months in visiting places of interest, and in the collection of works 
in the departments of philology and lexicography, for use in his 
future publications. 

Upon his return from Europe, he Ijccame the editor of the 
•'American Almanac," a statistical, closely printed, duodecimo 
Annual, each number containing about 350 pages, which he con- 
tinued to edit for eleven years, with his accustomed care and fidel- 
ity. In 1S46, his "Universal and Critical Dictionary" was first 
published — a large, closely printed royal octavo volume of 103 1 
pages, and also the sameyear, his "Elementary School Dictionary." 

In 1847, Dr. Worcester was threatened with total loss of sight. 
His eyes had yielded to his long, unliroken intellectual labor, and 
for two years he was nearly blind. In the meanwhile, three op- 
erations were performed on his right eye (which became wholly 
blind), and two on the left eye, which was happily saved. After 
the partial recovery of his sight. Dr. Worcester published the fol- 
lowing works : 



GRADUATES OF YALE COLLEGE. 299 

1850, '•'■Primary Dictionary for Public Schools," i6mo, 3S4 pages. 
Revised edition, i860. 

1855, "-Academic Dictionary", for High Schools and Academies, 
duodecimo, 565 pp. 

1857, '* Pronouncing Spelling Book," duodecimo, 180 pp. 

1859, " Qi^iiiito Dictionary of the English Language," with 1000 
illustrations, 12S4 pp. 

i860, '' Elementary Dictionary," Revised edition, duodecimo, 
400 pp. 

i860, "Comprehensive Dictionary," Revised edition, duodecimo, 
612 pp. 

1864, "Comprehensive Spelling Book," duodecimo, 156 pp. 

From a memoir of Dr. Worcester read before the American 
Academy, by Ezra Abbot, LL. D., Librarian of Hansard college, 
a few lines are here transcribed, presenting an estimate of his lit- 
erary labors by one who was familiar with them. "All the works 
of Dr. Worcester, (says the author of this memoir,) give evidence 
of sound judgment and good taste, combined with indefatigable in- 
tlustry, and a conscientious solicitude for accuracy in the statement 
of facts. The tendency of his mind was practical, rather than 
speculative. 

•' As a lexicographer, he did not undertake to reform the anom- 
alies of the English language. His aim was rather to preserve it 
from corruption. In regard to both Orthography and Pronouncia- 
tion^ he took great pains to ascertain the best usage, and perhaps 
there is no lexicographer whose judgment respecting these matters 
in doubtful cases deserves higher consideration." 

Dr. Worcester was a member of the Massachusetts Historical 
Society — of the American Academy — of the American Oriental 
Society, and an Honorary member of the Royal Geographical vSo- 
ciety of London. He received the honorary degree of LL. D., 
from Brown University in 1847, '^"^ from Dartmouth college in 
1856. 

In a biographical sketch of Dr. Worcester, by Hon. George S. 
Hillard, it is said of him, •• His long and busy life was passed in 
unbroken literary toil. Though his manners were reserved, and his 
habits retiring, his affections were strong ; and benevolence was an 
ever active principle in his nature. * * He was a stranger to the 
impulses of passion and the sting of ambition. His life was tran- 
quil, happy and useful. A love of truth and a strong sense of (lut\ 



300 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

were leading traits in his character. Little known, except by name, 
to the general pnblic, he was greatly hoiioi'ed and loved by that 
small circle of relati\es and friends ^^•ho had constant opportunities 
of learning the >yarnith of his ailections and the strength of his 
virtues."* 

KK\'. ItALPH EMERSON, D. 1).. 

was a son of Dea. Daniel and Ama (Fletcher) Emerson, born in 
Hollis, August iS, 17S7. Graduated at Vale in 1811. and at the 
Theological seminary at Andover in 1S14. He was tutor at Yale 
college from 1S14 to 1816 ; ordained as pastor of the Congregational 
church at Norfolk, Conn., 1S16, where he remained till 1S29. when 
he was appointed Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Pastoral 
Theology in the Theological seminary at Andover. He continued 
to discharge the duties of that professorship with eminent abilit\ 
for twenty-five years, till 1S54. when he resigned. He afterwards 
resided in Newburyport, JSIass.. for about five years, and then 
removed to Rockport, 111., where he died Ma\ joth. 1863. a't. 75. 
Publications: Prof. Emerson was tlic autlior of an interesting and 
appreciative '■'•Biography" of his brother, Rev. Joseph Emerson, pub- 
lished in 1834, and also of a translation of Wiggin's ''Angustinism" 
and ''Pelagianism," witli copious notes, published in 1S40. He \yas 
also a freciuent and able contributor to the " Bibliotheca Sacra" 
the '•• Christian Spectator." and to other theological publications.! 

• 

RE\'. HEXRV A. WORCESTER. 

son of Jesse and .Sarali (Parker) \W)rcester. born in llollis. Sep- 
tember 32, 181 3 ; graduated at ^'ale college in 1828 ; studied for the 
ministry at the theological seminary at New Haven, and was 
licensed to preach in 1833. ^^'"- ^^ <^i'eester embraced the doctrines 
of the New Jerusalem chinxh.as taught in the writings of Emanuel 
vSwedcnborg, and commenced preaching to the New Jerusalem 
society at Abington, Mass.. in 1833. After remaining at Abington 
for some months, he removed to Portland, Me., and was the acting- 
minister of the New Jerusalem societies in Portland, Bath and Gar- 
diner, till his decease at Portland. ]Ma\- 24. i84i,a't. 38. A small 
\()lume containing t\\elve of liis sermons, on xarious doctrinal sub- 
jects, was published in 1837. and he was also tlie author of a small 
work on the ■•' Sabbath," which has been reprinted since his death. 

•■*See also Allibone's Dictionary of Authors, \'o\. 3, pp. 2S3S-39. 
fSee Allen's American Biographical Dictionary, p. 305. 



GUADUATES OF YALE COLLEGE. 3OI 

111 ;in ()l)ituai"y notice of Mr. Worcester, published soon after !iis 
lecease, it was said of him "tliat his amiable, frank and social qual- 
ties gained him many warni friends, and his character and acquire- 
nents were such as to ensure to him universal esteem." 

REV. JOSEPH EALERSON, 

5on of Rev. Daniel and Esther (Frothingham) Emerson, was born 
September 4, 1808, graduated at Yale college in 1S30, and at the The- 
ological seminary at Andover in 1835. Ordained October 13, 1S36. 
Mr. Emerson was agent of the American Education Society from 
1S36 to 1S39, '^"*^' agent of the Western College Society from 1849 
to 1853. Settled as pastor of the Congregational church at Rock- 
ford, 111., from 1S54 to 1S59; District Secretary of the American 
Foreign Christian Union from 1S59 ^^ 1S71, and District Secretary 
of the A. B. C. F. M. from 1S71 to - — — . He now resides (1S79) in 
Andover, Mass.* 

BENJAMIN' F. FARLEY, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 

son of Benjamin M., and Lucretia (Gardner) Farley, born Novem- 
ber 20, 1S08, graduated at Yale college in 1833, read law in the 
office of his father in Hollis, and for a time practised his profession 
with him. Afterwards he engaged in mercantile business, and also 
in farming; now (1S79) resides in Worcester, Mass. 

RALPH H. CUTTER, ATTORNEY AT LAW. 

son of John H. and Susan (Poole) Cutter, born in Louisville, Ky., 
November 4, 1S35, came to Hollis with his parents in 1849, gradu- 
ated at Yale college in 1S5S, reail law in Nashua, N. H., and for 
some years practised his profession in that place, — afterwards re- 
moved to the State of Georgia. His father, John H. Cutter, son of 
Dr. Benoni Cutter, was born in Hollis. August 16, 1S07, was settled 
for many years in business at Louisville, and afterwards returned 
with his family and .settled in Hollis. 



*Andover Triennial Cataloafue. 



Vtl ' BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



CHAPTER X X \^ I I I . 

GRADUATES OF DARTMOUTH, MIDDLEBURY, AMHERST AND 
OTHER COLLEGES. 

REV. SAMUEL WORCESTER, D. D., 

son of Noah and Lydia (Taylor) Worcester, was born in Hollis, 
November i. 1770. He labored on the farm of his father in Hollis. 
till 1791. and after attaining to his twenty-first Near, prepared for 
college, partly at the academy at New Ipswich, and in part with 
Rev. Dr. Wood in Boscawen ; entered Dartmouth college in 
1792, and graduated in 1795. He was preceptor of New Ipswich 
academy in 1796; afterwards studied for the ministry with the 
Rev. Dr. Austin in Worcester, Mass.. and was ordained as pastor 
of the Congregational churcli and society at Fitchburg, Mass., 
vSeptember 27, 1797- He was dismissed at Fitchburg. by mutual 
council. Septemlier S, 1S02 : afterwards installed as pastor of the 
Tabernacle church in vSalem Mass.. April 20. 1S03. and chosen 
Professor of Theology at Dartmouth college June 1S04, which ap- 
pointment lie declined. •* In iSio, at the first meeting of A. B. C. 
F. iSI.. he was chosen Corresponding Secretary of the Board, and 
peformed the duties of that oftice with eminent ability and success, 
in connection with the pastorate of the Tabernacle church, till July. 
1S19. when he was relieved of a part of his duties as pastor by the 
settlement of a colleague." These relations with the /American 
Board and the Tabernacle church continued till his decease, at 
Brainerd, East Tennessee, June 7, 1S21. in his fifty-first year. He 
was buried at Brainerd and a monument erected there by the Board 
to his memory, with the following inscription from the pen of Hon. 
Jeremiah Evarts, his successor, as Corresponding Secretary : 

•'As a minister of the Gospel, Dr. Worcester labored for more than 
tvyenty years with zeal, fidelity and success. As a distinguished 
agent in exciting and directing the missionary enterprise of the 
American churches, he displayed eminent talents, and was impelled 




^ /ITCTV ce^FA^ 



GRADUATES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. 303 

by an ardent desire for the salvation of the heathen. To the promo- 
tion of this divine work he appHed all his faculties till exhausted 
by his arduous labors he fell asleep in Jesus while on a visit of kind- 
ness to the Cherokee people." His remains were afterwards dis- 
interred and removed to vSalem in 1S44, and deposited in the Har- 
mony Grove cemetery. 

He received the honorary degree of D. D. from Princeton college 
in iSii. Very many of the sermons, public addresses and other 
writings of Dr. Worcester have been published, and among them 
the following: ''Orations," at Dartmouth college, July 4, 1795 ; at 
New Ipswich, July 4, 1796; '• On the Death of Washington," at 
Fitchburg, iSoo. "Sermons." Six sermons on ''Eternal Judg- 
ment." iSoo; "Farewell," at Fitchburg, iSo3 ; "Dedication" 
sermon at Beverly, 1S03 ; " Righteousness as conducive to Happi- 
ness," 1804 ; " The Messiah of the Scriptures," iSoS ; '' Funeral of 
Mrs. Eleanor Emerson," 1S09 ; "Ordination of Rev. E. L. Parker,'' 
iSio; "State Fast." and at the "Ordination" of Rev. Henr}- 
Griffin. iSii ; " National Fast," 1S12 ; " Before the Foreign Mis- 
sionarvSocietv of Salem, 1S13 ; "Funeral of Rev. Rufus Anderson," 
1S14: "Paul on Mars Hill," 1S15 : " At the First Anniversary of 
the American Education Society." 1S16 ; '• Before the Massachusetts 
Society for the Suppression of Intemperance," 1817 ; " Posthumous 
Sermons," one volume duodecimo, pp. 500, 1833 ; " Letters to the 
Rev. Thomas Baldwin, on Baptism. 1807 ; three letters to Rev. Dr. 
Channing. on " American Unitarianism." 1815 ; " Christian 
Psalmody." and " Watt's Entire and Select Hymns," 1818. 

"His letters to Dr. Channing, in connection with the Unitarian 
Controversy, have been considered as almost unrivalled specimens 
of polemic theological discussion, and his published sermons are 
rich in evangelical thought, logically and luminouslv presented."* 

REV. ABEL FARLEY. 

son of Capt. Caleb and Elizabeth Farley, was born in Hollis, July 
17, 1773, graduated at Dartmouth college, 1798, and studied for 
the ministry in Hollis, with Rev. Eli Smith. Ordained as pastor 
of the Congregational church at Manchester, Vermont, February 
6, 1805. Resigned at Manchester in 181 2; afteiAvards removed to 
Goshen, ISIassachusetts, and was the acting pastor of the Congre- 
gational church at Goshen, till his death at that place, March 23, 
1817, <et. 43. 



*See Allibone's Die. of Authors, Vol. 3, p. 2839, and Spiague's Am. Pulpit, Vol. 2, p. 398. 



304 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



REV. -MICH ILL lU.OOD, 



son of Daniel and Mary (Pntnani) Blootl, born in llollis, Decem- 
ber 13, 1777. Graduated at Dartmouth college, iSoo; ordained 
as pastor of the Congregational church at Ruckstown, now Bucks- 
port, Maine, May I3, 1S03 : dismissed in 1S40. He afterwards re- 
sided in Ellsworth, Maine, but subsequently returned to Bucks- 
port, "'and there terminated an humble and valuable life," April 6, 
1853, iet. 74.* 

KKV. CALEB J. rEXN'EV, D. D. 

The ancestors of Dr. Tenney were from Rowley, county of 
Yorkshire, in the northerlv part of England, and came to New 
England, antl settled in Rowley, Massachusetts, about the year 
163S. His grandfather. William Tenne}-, came from Rowley, 
Massachusetts, and settled in Hollis about the year 1746. Dr. Ten- 
ney was the son of Capt. William and Phebe ( Jewett) Ten.ney, 
and was born in Hollis. ^fay 3, 17S0. He graduated at Dartmouth 
college, in iSoi. with the Hrst rank and honors of his class, of 
which Hon. Daniel Wel)ster was a member. He studied for the 
ministry, with Re\ . Dr. Burton. Thetford. Vt.. and Rev. Dr. 
Spring of Newbur\port. Mass.. and was ordained as pastor of the 
Congregational church at Newport, R. 1.. September 12, 1S04. 
Married Ruth Channing of Newport. iSio. Resignetl his charge 
at Newport, on account of ill health in Ma} , [S14. He was af- 
terwards installed as pastor of the Congregational churcii at \\'eth- 
erstield, Ct.. March 27. lSiO. lie received the honoraiA degree of 
D. D., fron\ ^'ale. in 1S29. Resigned his pastorate at Wethers- 
field, in C()nsc([nence of imjjaired he.dth and failure of liis \-oice, 
January LS41. In 1S42. he rcnioxed to Northampton, Mass.. 
antl in 1S43 was appointed agent of the American Colonization 
SocietN". and for the remainder of his lite, ga\e himself wholly 
to that work \n which he had eminent success. His last ad- 
dress in behalf of this societ\- was delivered at North Amherst, 
September 19. 1847, hut nine days before his death, which took 
place at Northampton, September 28, 1S47, at the age of 67. In 
Dr. Sprague's •• Annals of the .Vmerican Pidpit," it is said of Dr. 
Tenney, •• That he was a learned theologian, and a useful preacher 
— a judicious and faithful pastor, and a man of eminent and steady 
piety — amiable, just and generous and a true philanthropist." 

- Cliapniun'-; Alumni dT D:niiiioiith Collc-y^, p. ix). 




■•'#?■"■ . ■ -'■- 'NSf* 



^■f 



. ^. 



c^ ^ 



GRADl'ATHS OF DAHTMOUTir COLLEGE. 305 

Rev. Dr. Tyler, late President of East Wiiuisor Theolooical sem- 
inary, in a biographical sketch of Dr. Tenne\ . sa\s ot" him. that 
'' he was one of the most impressive preachers I e\ ir hcaiti. Intt 
excelled more in the composition tlian in the deli\er\ of his ser- 
mons. The^■ were characterized In a richness of matter, hicid 
arrangement, thorough discussion and a faithful ai;])ncati()n of thf 
truth." 

Among the pidjlished senuons of Dr. Tenne\ . were two ou 
'• Baptism :" at the •'ordination of Rev. Ro\ al Rolihins." 1816 : on 
the '-death of Rev. John Marsh. D. D.," 182 1 : --New England 
Distinguished. — A Thanksgi\ing .Sermon." 1S27 : at the •• Funeral 
of Rev. vSamuel Austin. D. D.."" 1S30. — anti at tr.e •• Euncral of 
Rev. Alfred Mitchell." 1832.* 

i;k\'. n a\'id jewett. 
son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Cummings) Jewett. born ^Vugusi 16. 
1773, and graduated at Dartmouth college in iSoi. Studied for tlie 
ministry with Rev. Dr. Emmons. D. D., of Franklin. Mass.. and 
Rev. Dr. Spring of Newburvport. — ordained as pastor of the Con^ 
gregational church at Rockport, Mass., Oct. 30, 1805. lie con- 
tinued in the pastorate of that church for thirty-one years, when he 
resigned on account of impaired health. During his ministry his 
chiu'ch is said to have increased from a membership of ten to two 
hundred and fiftv. Allen, in his American Biographies. sa>s ot 
him, "■ That he was a man of childlike simplicity and Christian 
tenderness, but of an iron piu'pose. resolute, fearless and immo\ - 
able." Died at Waltham, Mass., July 16. 1841. a't. 67. 

An interesting event in respect to Mr. Jewett was the Innial oi' 
his remains at Rockport, July 13. 1856, fifteen years after his death ; 
a sermon being preached on the occasion bN his son. Rev. ^ViIliam 
R. Jewett, then of Plymouth, N. II.. wlio also made an address at 
the grave, which was responded to on the part of tlie peo])le b\ Dr. 
Benjamin Haskell. 

lAPT. JO.NATILVX I!. KAST.\L\X. 

son of Jonathan and .Sarah (Fletcher) Eastman, horn in Ilollis. 
January 8, 17S0, graduated at Dartmouth college in 1803, enlisted 
in the United States army, and was appointed Ensign the same 
year. Lieutenant in 1805, and Captain in 1813. .Soon after this last 

*Sprague's American Pulpit. Vol. 2, pp. 47^, 474, 47:;. and Allen's Amfri(.;in Bir.>g;rapliv 

PP- 744, 7S.S- 

(20) 



3o6 BIOGRAl'HICAL SKETCHES. 

appointment, Capt. Eastman left the army and retnrned to Hollis, 
there passed the rest of his life, and died in Hollis April 26. 1837, 
set. 47. Capt. Eastman was with the American army in Canada, in 
1S12, at the time of its snrrender l*y (ien. Ilnll. and was then 
United States paymastei". 

XEHEMIAH HAKD^', jUX.. \l fOltXEV AI" LAW. 

son of Nehemiah and Abigail IIard\, born in Hollis. April 10, 
1781. and ;^radiiated at Dartmonth college in 1803. Read law in 
Boston, but did not practise his profession. Removed to Wilming- 
ton, North Carolina, in 1S07. and there engaged in mercantile pin^- 
suits : and afteiwards, in 1S15. remo\ cd to Tennessee and died at 
Wesley in that vState. August 26. i ^^f;. a't. ^S. 

Ki<:v. sFEiMiKx i AI;I,l•:^•. rn., 

>,on of Stejihen antl Mar\ (Shnttuck) l^ulex . l)orii in Hollis. Octo- 
ber 24, i779' gi'''('i'»ited at Dartmouth college in 1S04. Ordained 
as pastor of the Congregational church at Claremont, New Hani]:)- 
shire. December 24. 1S06. Dismissed Ajiril 21. iSic). Afterwards 
he was for several veais preceptoi- of the Acadcmv at Atkinson, 
New Hampshire, in the mean time supplving the pidpit of the 
Congregational society in that town. He was reputed to be an ex- 
cellent and accomplished scholar, a read\ wi^iter. and was a volum- 
inous contributor to the periodicals of the dd\ . Died at Amesburv, 
Mass.. Sept. 20. 1851. let. 71. 

RE\'. El, I S.Mnil. R'X.. 

son of Rev. Eli and Catharine (Sheldon) Smith, born in vSundei- 
land. Mass., July 16, 1787, and came to Hollis with his fither in 
1793. Graduated at Dartmouth college in 1809. Studied for the 
ministr\ in Philadelphia, and \\ as first settled as j^astor of a Pres- 
byterian church in Frankfort, K\ . He was pastor of the chuich at 
Frankfort for about ten years, and was afterwards, in 1829, installed 
as pastor of a Presbyterian church in Paris, K\ . It is said of him 
"'that his rank as a minister was mferior to that of no one of his 
cotemporaries in Kentuck\.'" Died at b^rankfort. Oct. 23. 1839, 
;et. 52. 

UlEiaAM TEX'XE^-. RX.. AIIOliXEV AI' EAW. 

son of Capt. William and Phebe ( Jewett) TemKA', born in Hollis, 
September 12, 1785- Graduated i8g8. reatl law at the law schc>ol 
of Judges Reeves and Gould in I>itchfiel(l. Ct. \\'as admitted to 



GRADUATES 0(- DARTMOUTH COI.LEGE. 307 

the bar in Hoston in 181 1, and first settled in his profession in vSaleni 
in 1813 ; removed from Salem to Newmarket, N. H., in 1815, 
and practised his profession at that place till his decease, Septem- 
ber 13, 1S3S, lEt. t^^. Mr. Tenney was assistant clerk of the New 
Ilamjjshirc Senate in 1823. 

REV. LEONARD JEWETT, 

son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Cummings) Jewett, born in Hollis, 
Octobers, 1787. Graduated at Dartmouth college, 1810, and at 
the Theological seminary at Andover in 1813. Was licensed to 
preach and employed for several years as a home missionarv in 
the vStates of New York and New Plampshire. He was afterwards 
ordained as pastor of the Congregational churcii at Temple, N. H., 
March 6, 1833. Resigned on account of impaired health in 1844, 
and afterwards resided in Hollis till his decease. February 16, 1862, 
:et. 74. 

REV. (JRANT l'OWER.S. 

5on of Samson and Elizabeth (Nutting) Powers, and grandson of 
Capt. Peter Powers, the first settler of Hollis, was born in Hollis, 
March 31. 1784. and graduated at Dartmouth college in 1810. 
Studied for the ministry witli Rev. Dr. Burton. Thetford, Vt. Or- 
dained as pastor of the Congregational church at Haverhill, N. H., 
lanuary 4, 1815. Dismissed at Haverhill, April 28,1829. Installed 
as pastor of the Congregational church at Goshen, Ct., August 27. 
of the same year, and continued pastor of the church at Goshen 
till his death. April 10. 1841. a't. 57. In a biographical sketcli of 
Mr. Powers, it is said of him. •• That as a preacher he was able, 
ingenious, faithful and instructive. That he was endued with much 
practical wisdom, with imcommon frankness and candor, and great 
generosity, and that he was highly esteemed for his talents and vir- 
tues, and his eminent and agreeable social qualities." He was a 
ready and popular writer, and an earnest and eloquent public 
speaker, and the productions of his pen display great good taste, 
versatility, and literary ability. Publications, — among his published 
writings are the following : Sermon.s — "' At the ordination of Rev. 
E. J. Boardman," 1822 ; " At the ordination of Rev. J. D. Farns- 
worth." 1827; "At the funeral of Rev. William Andrews," 1838; 
"'Centennial Address at Hollis," 1830; "Centennial Address at 
Goshen. Ct.," 1838 : " An Essay upon the Influence of the Imagina- 
tion upon the Nervous System." 1828 ; " Historical Sketches of the 
Coos Country," 1S41.* 

*Drake's Biog^riipliical Dictionary, p. 735. Allon'.s Bioo^raphical Dictionary, p. 675. 



30S HIOGKAPIIK AI. SKKTCIIHS. 

NOAH HAKin', M. !>., 

son of Phineas ami Silnl (vShattuck) Hardy, was l)orn in llollis. 
March 33. i/Sv (graduated at Dartmouth college. 1812: studied 
niechcinc and settled as a physician in IloUis. almut the year 1S14, 
and practised Ids profession there till his death at llollis, Dccemher 
2=^, iS^^O. ;et. 6v He was nnich respected in his profession, and 
also for his andable and cxcmplar\ character. 

lA'KE ICASTMAN. AI'IOKXIA' Ar LAW. 

son of Lt. .Vnios and Ruth ( Fla<i,g) Eastman, was hoiii in Hollis. 
fune zz. 1790. and j^^raduated at Dartmouth collegx-. 1812. He 
read law in Bcjston and conmienced the ]:)ractice of his profession 
in that city in 1816. He afterwards in 1820. rcmoyed t<> Sterling, 
^lass. ; thence to Dracut. and subsecjuentlv settled in Lowell, as a 
teacher of niusic. for which he was distinguished. Died at Lowell. 
Febi-uary 3. 1847. ;et. ^6. 

i;k\ . 1) wii) i'A(;k sMirii. 

son of Rey. Da\ id and Hepzihah (Worcester) Smitli. horn in 
Hollis. September 20. 1795. (Jraduated at Dartmouth College. 
1823 ; Studietl tor the ministry with Rev. Dr. Wood of Boscavvcn. 
N. H. ; ordained as pastor of the Congregational chuixh at Sand- 
wich, N. H., ALiy 23. 1S27 : dismissed, June 28, 1832 ; afterwards 
installed as pastor of the Congregational church at Parsonslield, and 
Newfiehb iSLiine, Jidy 11. [S32 ; dismissed in J839. and sul)se- 
cpiently. AIa> 8, 184^, was settled in the ministr\ at (JreenHeld. X. 
IL Died at (ireentield. October 11. 18^0. a't. 55. 

KK\'. \\[1, 1,1AM 1'. liASl'MAN. 

son of Alpheus and Elizabeth (Ames) Eastman, born in Hollis .Sep- 
tember 20, 1813. Graduated at Dartmouth college in 1842. and at 
the Theological seminar\' at Andoyer. in 184^ Ordained as pastor 
of the Presbyterian church at Ne\y Comerstown. Ohio, in 1846. 
Dismissed at New Comerstown, and after\vards installed as a pas- 
tor of the Presliyterian church in Lnion. Ohio, and still (1879) 
resides in that State. 

I;K\'. ClIAKLKS C'UMMlXfJS. 

son of Thomas and Mary (Woolson) Cummings, born June 7- 
1817. Graduated at Dartmouth college, 1842, and at the Theolog- 
ical seminary at Ando\er in 184^ Licensed to preach by the 



OKADUATES ()!■ DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. 3O9 

AiuloNcf Association in 1846. and after preaching for a short time, 
_!4a\ e u]) his profession, on account of impaired health. For the 
hist t\vent\- years or more he has heen principal ot" the Higli school 
in Medford. Mass.. where he still resides (1879)- 

ciiAiMJis H. .\r()()Ait. .\rrc)n\i;\ Ar law. 

son of (iardner and ^Slary (Jrlard\ ) Mooar. horn in llolhs. June l^. 
1823. (irachiated at Dartmouth college, 1848. Read iawinCox- 
ington, Ky. , admitted to the har in 1850, and settled in his profes- 
sion at Covington. lie was judge of the Count\' Court of Kenton 
count\ . Kv.. from 18^8 to 1862. Still resides at Co\ington. 

EDWARD E. JOHNSON. .XITORNKV AT LA^V, 

son of Noah and Letitia (Claggett) Johnson, horn in Hollis, Octo- 
ber 21. 1842. Graduated at Dartmouth college in 1864. Read law 
in Nashua, N. PL. settled in and now practises liis profession in 
Marll)orough. Mass.. having also an office in Boston. 

JOSEPH 15. PARKER, .ArrORXJiV AT LAW. 

son of )o.seph D. and Lucretia (Smith) Parker, born in Mollis, Sep- 
tember I, 1840. Graduated at Dartmouth college, 1869. For some 
years after leaving college he was a l)ookseller and stationer at Han 
over, afterwards read law in Nashua. N. II., and settled in his pro- 
fession at Nashua, where he now resides (1879)- 

Klt.WKLlN WORCESTER. ATTORXEV AT LAW. 

son of John N. and Sarah (llolden) Worcester, born in Hollis, 
(October 27, 1845. Graduated at Dartmouth college in 1S70. Read 
hiw at the law school in Cambridge, practised his profession for a 
short time at Cambridge, and afterwards engaged in mercantile and 
manufacturing business with his brothers at Cambridge, and at 
Hollis, N. H. He was Representative from Hollis to the New 
Hampshire General Court in 1S77 and 1878. 

JOIl.N Jl. HARDY, ATTORNEY AV LAW. 

son of John and Hannah (Farley) Hardy, born in Hollis. P'ebruary 
2, 1847. Graduated at Dartmouth college in 1870. Read law in 
Boston and settled in the practice of his profession in that city. 

CH.\RI,ES L. DAY, 

son of Rev. Pliny B. and Mary (Chapin) Day, born in Hollis, April 
28, 1854, Graduated at Dartmouth college, 1S77. Now (1879) 
I'cading law in Iowa. 



3IO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

CEOKGE W. SAUNDERSON, 

son of William P. and Hannah (Marshall) Saunderson. born in 
Hollis, April 22, 1854. Graduated at Dartmouth college in 1877. 
Now (1S79) reading law in Nashua. 

GRADUATES OF MIDDLEBURY COLI.EGE. 
}{EV. FIFIELI^ IlOI/r, 

son of FiHeld and Anna (Lakin) Holt, l)orn 1784; gratluated al 
Middlcbury college, 1810, and at the Theological seminary at 
Andover, in 1813. 'He was ordained as pastor of the Congrega- 
tional church and society at Bloomfield, Me., June 14 181^. where 
he remained till his decease, at Bloomfield. November i :;. 1830. 
:et. 45. 

RF;V. SOLOMON I1AK1)\ , 

son of .Solomon and Mary (Bailey) Hard\ , born in Hollis, Septem- 
ber 37, 1796; graduated at Middlebury college, 1824, and at the 
Theological seminary at Andover, in 1827. Mr. Hardy was 
ordained as a home missionary, at Andover, November 10, 1..S27. 
He afterwards preached, as '• stated supply " or acting pastor, for a 
number of years for several chinches and societies in Illinois and 
Massachusetts, and died while so engaged at Eastham. Mass.. Sep- 
tember 18, i842,;et. 4S. 

(iRADUATES OF BROWX UX I \' KRSII ^•. 
REV. DANIEL KENDRICK, 

son of Capt. Daniel and Mary (Pool) Kendrick, born in Hollis. 
March 30, 178s i graduated at Brown Universit\' in iSio: stuilied 
for the ministry with Rev. Caleb J. Tenney. D. D.. at Newport. 
R. I. Ordained pastor of the Congregational churcli and society 
at Pittston. Me., November 28. 181 2. Died at Wilton. Me.. May. 
1868, let. 83. 

rf:v. LUTHER sMrrn, 
son of Rev. Eli and ^\ma (Emerson) Smith, boni in Hollis. An- 
gust II, iSoo; graduated at Brown University. 1824: read law 
with Hon. B. M. Farley, in Hollis : afterwards studied for the min- 
istry with his brother. Rev. Eli Smith. Jniu. at Frankfort. Ky. : 
subsequently established, and tor manv years conducted an acad- 
emy in Bourbon county, Ky. : June 8, 1874. he was settled in tlic 
ministry as pastor of the Presbyterian chvn-ch and society, at Zanes- 
field, Ohio, where he still resides. 



(jRADlTATES OF AMIIEKST COLLEGK. 3II 

THOMAS ABBOT FARLEY, 

son of Dea. Thomas and Susannali (Burge) Farley, born in IloUis. 
July 8. 1S13; graduated at Amherst college in 1838, and at An- 
dover Theological seminary in 1841. Died in Hollis. August 26, 
1841. a short time after graduating at Andover. mt. 28. 

REV. AMOS K. SHATTUCK, 

son of Amos and Margaret (Ball) Shattuck, born in llollis,Juiv 
9, 1832. Graduated at Amherst college, 1S59, and at the Union 
Theological seminary in New York in 1862, Preached for several 
years in Surry and Charlestown. N. H., and ordained as pastor ot 
a Congreg itional church at Durham. Me.. June 3, 1868. Dismissed 
at Durham, and afterwards preached in Worcester, Vt.. and Hatch- 
ville, Mass., till April, 1872. when he ceased to preach on account 
of ill health. Now resides in Hollis. 

GRADUATES OF MAKY\TELE COLLEGE. JEXX. 
RE\'. I'HILLIPS WOOD. 

son of Dea. Phillips and Dorothy (Davis) Wood, born in Hollis. 
July 12. 1801. Graduated at Maryville college in 1831. .Studied 
for the ministry at the Theological seminary at Alaryville. and was 
afterwards ordained as pastor of the Presbyterian church at Blounts- 
ville, Tenn. Subsequentlv removed to Piqua, Ohio, where he 
died June 11. 18^6. xt. 54. 

LEONARD WOOD, NL D.. 

son of Dea. Phillips and Dorothy (Da\is) Woocb l)(>rn in Hollis. 
October 22. 1805. Graduated at Maryville cc^Uege in 1832. 
Studied medicine, and settled in his profession at Mary\ iUe. where 
he died. August, 1S54, a't. 48. 

i?i':.\jAM!\ y. i;Mi:K>o\. 

son oi" Re\'. Daniel and b^sther ( Frotliinghani ) ICnicrson. horn in 
Hollis. Juh' 3. 1806. .(Jraduated at Union coUge. N. ^'.. 1830. 
Read law in Hollis, and .settled in his profession, first in Townsend. 
Mass.. and afterwards removed to Nashua. N. II.. wlicre he still 
resides in tlie practice of liis piofession. 

RE\'. ELI \-. SAWTELL. D. D.. 

son of John and Martha (W'allingford) Sawtell, was horn in Mil- 
ford, N. H., September 8, l799. and came to Hollis to reside when 
of the age of ten years, his father being a fannei". in \ erN moderate 



^12 r.i()(;i;AiMiic Ai. sKiricniis. 

circumstaiRC'N. In his carh boylioovl. youiiii,- Eli woi'kcd upon tiic 
fariii witli his lather in Ilollis. hut l)cin<4- then of feeble constitution, 
farm work was Ibum! to be too hard for him, and when about the 
age of sixteen, lie was ajiprenticed to a shoemaker to learn his 
trade. In the fall of 1817. Rev. E\\ Smith. Jun.. then of Frank- 
fort. K\. . made a \isit to Ilollis. one purpose of which was. to 
en^M^e a small companx' of xoung- men. inclined to study for the 
ministr\. to -o to Tennessee to be educatetl. with that \iew. L'pon 
hearing- the public address of Mr. Smith u])on the subject, young 
Sawtell. then of the age of eighteen, anti t\v<.( other Ilollis young- 
men, of about the same age. made up their minds to go to Ten- 
nessee the spiing following. Ihit when spring came, the courage 
of the other two failed. Ihider the agreement, made with his 
mastei". one \ear's serxice was still due on the contract ot appi'en- 
ticeship. IIa\ing made up his mind to go to Tennessee, he bought 
of his master this last gear's time, by giving him his note for $90, 
to be paid when he should return as a minister from Tennessee, 
wdiich debt was promptly p;ud eight years after on his first return 
to New lilngland. 

On the hrst of Ma\. 1818. Dr. Sawtell. then in his nineteenth 
\ear. started for Tennessee, a distance of eleven hundred miles (a 
large part of the way through the wilderness), on foot and alone, 
with his w hole w ardrobe. and library, consisting of a Bible, hymn- 
book and primer, tied up in a cotton handkerchief. In this plight, 
and with $14 foi' his expenses, he made his way to Maryville, 
Tenn., prepared for college at the school in that place, graduated 
at the college in Greenville. Teim.. in 1823. and at the theological 
seminarv at JNIaryville in 1825, and was licensed to preach the same 
year. After being employed for about a year in collecting funds 
for Maryville college, in the year 1826. he came on to New Eng- 
land and spent two years or more, in various States, as an evan. 
gelist. He afterwards returned to the west, and in 1829 was settled 
as pastor of a Presbyterian church in Louisville, Ky.. where he con- 
tinued till 1S36. In the year last named, he was appointed agent 
of the American Seamen's Friend Society, and went to Havre in 
France, where, through his efforts, a seamen's chapel was built 
and a church established, of which he became pastor till 1843, 
when he was appointed agent of the Foreign Evangelical Society, 
in the service of which he was employed for several years. This 
agency led to his travelling and preaching very extensively, in both 



CiltADLATK ()l {jKEEWIIAA-: LOlA.KGli 



;i3 



Europe and the Liiitcd .Slates, in the diseliarj^e of hi*^ duties, he 
havin<i,' crossed the Athuitic. on his various missions, no less than 
eight times. His connection with that societ\ liaxinjLj been dis- 
solved, he established a nourishing female academ\' at Cleveland. 
Ohio, of which he was ])rinci])al till i>S54. '^^'i^'" he accepted a 
second appointment to take charge of the seamen's chapel at 
Havre, ^vhere he continued for the next nine \ears. In 1863 he 
again returned to the United States, and for a vear or more ser\ed 
in the union army in the care of our sick and wounded soldiers. 
In March, iS6v he \vas again settled in the ministr\ , in charge of 
the Congregational chinch and society in Saratoga. N. Y., where 
he continued for about lour years, when, by reason of impaired 
sight and health, he resigned and remo\ed to lirooklyn, N. \'., 
and after some \'ears to Newmarket. N. J., where he still resides. 
Wliile in Europe Di-. .Sawtell received the honorary degree of D. 
D., from the college at Marv\ ille. Tenn. 



3M 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKKTCliES. 



C H A P T E R X X I X 



MlNISTKns. IMI^•S1(.■IANS AND LAW'i KRS X(J T GllADrA IKS Or COI.l.KCE 



I!KV. NOAH WORCKS TKi:. !). n.. 

SOU of Noah and Lvdia (Tavlor) Worcester, ^vas lioni No\eml)er 
28, j75'^- Thi; opportunities of Di-. W'orccstei^ for attending" school 
were limited to the short pu])lic schools in Ilollis. which, such 
as they \\ere. ended with the winter of 17^4-;;. In the spring- of 
1775' ''t the age of sixteen, he enlisted in the arrn\ . and was in the 
Ilollis compan\ at the hattle of Bunker Hill. In 1776 he \\ent to 
Plymouth, X. II.. where he taught his tirst school. ha\ing (as he 
says in a short autobiograph\ ) •• never studied (jeograplnor (gram- 
mar, or e\'en had the benefit of a dictionar\ ."" While at Plymouth, 
he says: ■• After I became an inslructoi". 1 lelt the importance of 
learning, and exeited m\self to obtain it b\ such means as were in 
my powei'. 1 fouml m\self deficient in the art of writing, and 
being at PKmouth w hei"e. in the time of the \\ ar. it was difficult to 
procure paper. 1 wrote o\ei' a quautit\ <if" a\ liite birch bark, in imi- 
tation of some excellent copies 1 f >nn(l at PKmouth." 

Again in 1777 'i*-' ''^''"^ '■'' '-'"'*-' ;ii'm\ . and was in the Mollis coni- 
])anv at the battle of Pennington. ^\ heie. in his eighteenth \ear. lie 
was fife majcv. In .September. 1778. ha\ ing l)ought of his fathei' 
the remaining fourteen months ot his miiioritx. he went again to 
PKmouth with the expectation of spending his lite as a farmer. 
except as he might occasionalK" teach sciioi)]. The fall attei' he was 
married, on his twentv-first birthdax . 

In lySz he remoxed with his famiK to Tliornton. \. II.. \\ hei"e 
he had a small larm. an<l. while cair\ ing on his farm there, also 
worked at the trade of a shoemaker, which he had learned in his 
boyhood. (J)bliged to ]:)ractisc the most rigid econom\ in respect 
to time, w hen at woi^k u])on his slioe bench, lie was in the habit til' 




^AJTo 



'(TV >L^ f-f^C^ 



/j. 



MINIS'IKUS N'OT ORADIIATES. ' 315 

keeping pen and Ink l)y his side to note d(n\ n an) important 
thoughts as they occurred. In this way he accustomed himself to a 
rigorous mental discipline, especially In the writing of dissertations 
on various theological subjects. 

In 1785 he addressed a letter, (which was afterwards published,) 
to Rev. John Murray, the noted Universalist preacher of that day, 
••On the Origin of Evil." This was Dr. Worcester's first publica- 
tion, and soon brought him Into public notice, and prepared the way 
tor his introduction into the ministry. Upon the recommendation 
of the neighboring ministers he was licensed to preach in 1786, and 
on the iSth of Octol>er of that year was ordained as pastor of the 
Congregational church and society In Thornton. He liad lived in 
'I'hornton for five years before his ordination, and in the meantime 
had been schoolmaster, selectman, town clerk, justice of the peace, 
and representative to the general court. I'rom 1S02 to 1S04 he 
was the first missionary (;f the New Hampshire Missionary So- 
ciety. In 1810 he remo\eti to .Salisbury. N. H., and for' three 
years was the assistant of Ids brother. I'liomas Worcester, as min- 
ister of that place. While at Salisbury he publisheil his well- 
known work entitled •' Bible News." which afterwards passed 
through many editions. 

In 1813. the monthly periodical called the ••Christian Disciple"' 
was established by a number of the prominent clergymen of Boston, 
and Dr. Worcester was invited to become its editor. On the 
acceptance of this in\itation he remo\ ed to Brighton, Mass., and 
continued to be the editor of thai periodical till 1818. While so 
engaged his mind became \erv deepl)' interested In the cause ot 
universal peace, and In 1814 he publlslied bis celebrated pamphlet 
entitled •• A .Solemn Re\Iew of tlie Custom of War." an essay 
that was many times republished in this coimtry and England, and 
was translated Into several foreign languages. The ]:)ublication of 
this pamphlet, not very long after, led to the formation of the Mas- 
sachusetts Peace vSocietv, of which Dr. Worcester was elected Sec- 
retary. In 1819 a quarterly periodical was established by this 
society, entitled the '• Friend of Peace," of wlilch I)r. Worcester 
was the editor and principal contrlbulor till the vear 1S28. Avlien he 
resigned on reaching his 70th year. 

His mind was afterwartls directed, with much earnestness, to the 
examination of fhe ([uestion of the connection of •• the Suflerings 
of Christ with the sahation of men.'" and In 1829 he published a 



3l6 KIOGRAPIIICAI. SKK'l'C-HKS. 

small volume entitletl the •• Atoning Sacrifice — a Display ot Lonc. 
not of Wrath." In 1S31 he also published a small work entitled 
•• Causes and Evils of Contention among Christians," and in 1S33. 
his last work \vith the title ^" Last Thoughts on Important Subjects." 
Beside the above works he also published the follo\ving : Sermon, 
at the •• Ordination of Re\ . Thomas Worcester." and "Friendly 
Letter to Rev. Thomas Baldwin." 1791. "Candid Discussion of 
Close Communion." 1794; •• Ne\v IIam]:)shire Election Sermon," 
1800; "Reasons for declining to adopt the Baptist Theory and 
Practice." 1809; " Appeal to the Candid or Trinitarian Review:" 
1814: "Thoughts on the Personality of the ^V<)rd of God :" anil 
*" Review of Atheism," 1816. Receivetl the honorary degree of 
A. M.. from Dartmouth college, in 1791. and that of D. D. from 
Harvard in 1818. Died at Brighton, October 31, 1837. ^'* ^^'^ 79*^'^ 
vcar. Ilis monument at Alt. Auburn Ijears the follow ing inscription ; 

" To XOAH WOKCESTER, I). I'.. 

Erected by his Friend.s 

In conimemoriition of his Zeal and LalH>is 

In the cause of Universal Peace, 

And the consistency of his cliaracter 

As a Christian Phihmtliropist and Divine." 

UEX'. LEONARD WORCESTER. 

son of Noah and Lydia (Taylor) Worcester, born January i, 1767. 
Mr. AVorcester went to Worcester, Mass.. in his youth, and served 
an apprenticeship to the printers' trade in the office of Isaiah 
Thomas, Esq.. a distinguished printer and publisher of that time. 
After reaching the age of majorit\ , he was, for several years, edi- 
tor, printer, and publisher of the newspaper called the " Massachu- 
setts Spv." In 1795, at the age of twenty-eight, he was chosen 
deacon of the first church in Worcester, of which Rev. Dr. Austin 
was pastor, and without any regular or systematic course of theo- 
logical studies he was licensed to preach by the Mendon Associa- 
tion. March 12. 1799, and was ordained as pastor of the Congrega- 
tional church and society in Peacham, Vt., October 30. 1799. He 
discharged the duties of his pastorate with much acceptance for 
thirty-eight years, till 1S37, when he left Peacham on account of 
impaired health. He afterwards resided in Littleton, N. H.. and 
St. johnsbiiry. Vt., until his decease at the place last named, May 
28, 1846, iet. 79. 

Publications of Mr. Worcester. " Letters to Rev. Dr. Bancroft, 
on the doctrine of Election," 1794; Oration on the "Death of 



MINISTERS NOT GRADUATES. 317 

Washington,'' iSoo; "Fast Day Sermon," 1S02 ; also Sermons on 
the following subjects — •' The Highway and Way"; -'On the 
Atonement;" "On Prayer;" ''On the Determination of God:" 
••On the Trinity;" "Men their worst Enemies ;" '• The Chris- 
tian desirous to be with Christ ;" " A Defence of the Confession of 
Faith of the church at Peacham ;" at the " Ordination " of Rev. 
Elnathan Gridley and Rev. Samuel A. Worcester as Missionaries, 
1835 ; •• On the Alton Outrage," 1837 ; ••At the close of his Min- 
istry," 1S39. Besides the a1)ove publications, Mr. Worcester was 
a frequent contributor to several of the religious periodicals of the 
time. He received the honorary degi'ee of A. M., from Middlc- 
liurv college in 1804, and from Dartmouth college in 1827.* 

REV. THOMAS WORCESTER, 

son of Noah and Lydia (Taylor) Worcester, born November 22. 
176S. Mr. Worcester studied for the ministry with Rev. Daniel 
Emerson at Holl'.s and was ordained as pastor of the Congrega- 
tional church and society in Salisbury, N. H., November 9, 1791. 
Objections were made at the time, (by some of the ordaining coun- 
cil) to the ordination of the candidate, mainly, for the reason that 
he had not had the advantage of a •• college education." After 
considerable delay in consequence of this opposition. Judge Eben- 
ezer Webster, the ftither of Hon. Daniel Webster, and a member 
of the society, rose and addressed the council in an earnest and 
eloquent speech in which he said, " Mr. Moderator., zve have 
chosen this yoiiug vian for our ?ninister.. and zvc are satisjied 
zvith him: we have invited this council to ordain him. Sir, but if 
yoji do not sec ft to do it, (he added with determined emphasis) 
zve shall call another council that xvill .'' After this address the 
candidate was ordained without the call of a second council. 

In the year 1807, Hon. Daniel Webster, tlien a parishioner of 
Mr. Worcester, united with his church. At the time of so doing, 
Mr. Webster wrote out his own creed, or confession of faith, which 
he left with his pastor. The original document in the hand writ- 
ing of its author, after the decease of Mr. Worcester, was found 
among his papers, by his executor, Judge George W. Nesmith, and 
by him deposited in the library of the New Hampshire Historical 
Society at Concord, where it is still supposed to be. 



*Sprague's American Pulpit, Vol. 2, pp. 455, 4^. 



318 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCMIKS. 

Sonic years after his settlement Mr. Worcester embraced the 
theological doctrines of his brother, Dr. Noah Worcester, as pre- 
sented in his work, called "• Bible News." On this account and 
also by reason of his failing health, he was dismissed by a mutual 
council, April 24, 1823. lie afterwards remained in vSalisbur> 
without charge till his death, December 24. 1831. ;et. 63. Me 
received the honorary degree of A. M. from Dartmouth college 
in 1S06. In Dr. .Sprague's biographical sketch it is said of Mr. 
Worcester that he was highly gifted " with the powc-rs of natural 
eloquence." 

Publications: •• Oration," July 4, i 79S, and ••Thanksgiving .Ser- 
mon" same year, afterwards Sermons as follows, at the "•ordina- 
tion" of Rev. Moses .Sawyer, 1S02 ; '•'• Little Children in Hea^•en.'■ 
1803 ; '• On the Education of Children," 1804; '^ C)n the Glorv of 
Christ;" -'On the Testimony by which the Son of (Jod honored 
the Father," and '^ on the Sonship of Christ," 1810; "Concise 
view of the Glory of Christ," 181 i ; at the •• Funeral" of Joseph 
Wardwell, 1814 : "Letter" to Rev. Dr. Spring, 181 1 : "Eccle- 
siastical Usurpation Exposed," 1815 ; ■• Candid Letters to a Trini- 
tarian." 1817: •• I'^'iendly Letter to a Trinitarian IJrother." 1819.* 

kh;\-. oavu) hkowx, 

son of David and Rebecca Brown, born April 4, 1773. Studied 
for the ministrN in Ilollis, and was self-taught. Preached for a 
time in Ilollis antl vicinity as an li^vangelist. and was afterwards 
settled as a Raptist minister in western New ^'ork. 

Ki;\'. SAML'KI. AMI?i:()SK. 

The name of Mr. Ambrose is not found in the Ilollis records of 
births. He was a meml)er of the Ilollis ^'oung Men's Religious 
Association before the Revolution, and of the Ilollis militia com- 
pany in January, I'/'J^. and alsf) a soldier from Ilollis in the army 
at Cambridge in the fall of tliat year. Married Mary Goodhue, 
daughter of Dea. Samuel Gootlhue, of Ilollis, February 20, 1776. 
Removed to Plymouth, N. 11. , studied for the ministry, and was 
settled as pastor of the Baptist church in .Sutton, N. IL, April, 
1782, and dismissed at .Sutton in March, 179S' was afterwards 
employed as a missionary, and in preaching to vacant churches. 
Died at .Sutton, May 30.1830. ;et. 77. 

*Spr;i join's American I'nlpit. Viil. S, ]>]>. 1Q3, io<). 



MINISTERS NOT CiRADllATKS. 319 

RK V. JOSEPH WHEAT, 

son of Thomas and Mary (Bull) Wheat, born July i8, 1759. He 
was a soldier from Ilollis in the Continental army, and a brother of 
Thomas Wheat, Jun., wlio was killed at Bunker Hill. After the 
war he studied for the ministry, and was settled hs pastor of the 
Baptist church in Grafton. N. H., in August. 1801. Dismissed in 
'815. Died at Canaan. N. II.. October 28. 1837. xt. jS. 

REV. DANIl) SMiril. 

^on of Emei'son and Mary (Page) vSmitii, born September 38. ij(^(~)- 
Mr. Smith learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and for sev- 
eral vears carried on that business in Hollis, and aided in building 
the third Hollis meeting-liouse in 1804. He afterwards studied for 
the ministry with Rev. Eli vSmith in Ilollis, and was first ordained 
as pastor of the Congregational church at Temple, Maine, Februarv 
21. 1810. Dismissed Januarv 27. i8iy. Afterwards installed as 
pastor of the Congregational church at Meredith, N. II.. March 
23, 1819. Died at Meredith. August 18. 1824. mt. 54. 

RE\'. JACOK II \KI)^■. 

son of I^aac and Mehitable (Bovnton) Hardy, born November 14, 
179V studied for the ministry at the Theological seminarv at Bangor, 
Me., and graduated at I>ang()r in 1824. Ordained as pastor of the 
Congregational church at Strong, Me.. Julv 12, 1826. Died at 
Strong. March i. 1833. a-t. 37. 

HKX. IIKNKN' II. SAl'NDERSON. 

son of Jonathan and Lucy (Pool) vSaunderson, born .September 
I, 1810. Entered Ydlc college in 1828, and left in 1831, without 
grackiating. Studied for the ministrv at the Theological seminary 
at Andover. and graduated at Andover in 1842. Supplied the Con- 
gregational church at Ypsilanti. Mich., from October, 1845. to 
October. 1846. Ordained as pastor of the Congregational church at 
Ludlow. Vt., April 20, 1848. Dismissed April, 18=53. Was pas- 
tor of the Congregational church at Wallingford, Vt., from May i. 
1853. to May I. 1862: at Ludlow. Vt., from 1862 to 1864: at 
Charlestown, N. IL. from 1864 to 1S73. Now resides in Swanzey, 
N. II. Publications of Mr. vSaunderson, "Centennial address," at 
W^allingford. Vt.. 1873 : "• History of Wallingford," also an excel- 
lent •• IIistor\ of Charlestown.*" N. H.. 1S77. 



320 lilOGRAlMIK AI. SK F.TClITiS. 

1?E\'. EDWAIJI) JOIIXSOX. JL'X., 

son ot' Edward and .'~^arah (l^nicc) Johnson, born Octol)er 13. 1813. 
Received an academical education at ^Vndover. Mass. In 1S36 he 
^vent as a missionaiA' school teacher to the .Sandwich Ishuuls. in the 
employ ot" the A. B. C. F. M. While engaoed as a teacher there 
he studied tor the ministry, and was ordained as pastor of a native 
church at VVaoli. in the island of Kauai, of which he was for 
man\' \cars the minister. Died in iS6<S. ad. ^v 

I'inSK'iAXS XOT (ilJAni'AlES OF COLT.EGE. 

AKijAii \yi!ir,irr. 

son of Ca])l. Joshua and Ahigail Wrij^-ht. born August 15. 1746. 
Removed from llollis to Hebron. \. II.. before the war of the 
Revolution, and settled there as a phxsician. Died at Hebron in 
i8:j8. :et. S2. 

I'KTEIJ EMEItSOX. 

son of Rev. Daniel I'Lmerson. (.Sec p. 210. a//fc.) 

Wir.MA.M IIALi:. 

son of Dr. b'li" Hale. (See p. 211. af/fc.) 

JOSEPH !•. EASrMAX. 

son of [onathan and .Sarah (Fletcher) Eastman, born January i^, 
1772. Studied medicine in New Boston w ith Dr. W'ni. Go\'e. and 
after practising his ]ir(jfession foi- some \ears in Xew Boston, he 
relinquished it. returned to Ilollis. and settled upon his farm near 
the middle of the tf)wn, where he continued to reside till his de- 
cease, Se])t. 20. iS6;;. ;el. 93. Dr. Eastman was a man of much 
general intelligence, enterprise and public spirit. lie was the 
Moderator of the annual town iiieetings in llollis. in tifteen (lifer- 
ent vears. between 1812 and 183:;. and was a Coroner t'or the 
county from 1802 to 1849. 

JOSEPH l:o^■Nl•ox, 
son of Al>raham and Mar\ (Hartshorn) Boynton. boin March 26, 
1 7S9, studied .nedicine in llollis. and after\yards removed to antl 
settled ni the State of New York. 

I.L'KE LAWREXC'E. 

son of Daniel and Folly (Johnson) Eawrence, born April 14. 1803. 
Settled in his profession in Lunenburg. Mass. Died in ITollis, 
January 19. 1832. a't. 28. 



PlIVSICIANS NOT GRADUATES. 32 I 

CALVIN WHEELER, 

son ot" Zebulon and Mary (Kendiick) Wheeler, born Jinic 7. iSo^. 
Settled in his profession in Bristol, 111. 

JOHN R. SMITH, 

son of Rev. Eli and Ania (Emerson) Smith, born Febrnary 12, 
1S07, stndied medicine in Paris, Ky., settled first in his profession 
at Paris, and afterwards in Lexington, Ky. He now (1S79) re- 
sides in the town of Vermont, Missonri. 

HENRY \V. WILLOUGHBY, 

son of Washington and Lucy (Saunderson) Willoughby, born De- 
cember 21, 1S16. Dr. Willoughby entered Amherst college in 1837. 
and left college in his junior year, without graduating. He after- 
wards studied medicine at the medical college in Philadelphia, and 
settled in his profession in Hollis, in 1855, where he still resides, in 
the practice of it (1879). 

JOHN G. WOOD. 

son of Moses and Submit (Plardy) Wood, born December 27. 1830. 
studied his profession in Philadelphia, and settled as a physician in 
Salem, Mass.. where he died. 

JACOB MOOAR. 

son of John and Rebecca (Abbot) Mooar, l)()rn March 7. 1831, 
studied his profession at Hanover and Manchester. N. IL, and 
settled as a physician in Manchester. 

JOSIAII M. BLOOD. 

son ot Ebenezcr and Elizabeth (Abbot) Blood, born fuly 3, 1832, 
studied his profession in Hollis, and also at the University in New 
York, settled as a physician in Temple, N. H.. and afterwards in 
Ashby, Mass. 

SAMUEL W. FLETCHER, 

son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Corey) Fletcher, born September 18, 
1831, studied his profession in Cambridge, Mass., New York city, 
and also in Paris, France. Settled in his profession in Pcpperell. 

Mass., where he now resides. 

(21) 



322 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

WILLIAM H. CUTTER, 

son of John II. and Susan (Pool) Cutter, born July 17, 1S47, 
studied his profession at the medical school in Hanover, N. H., 
and settled as a physician in Hollis. 

LAWVERS BORN IN HOLLIS NOT GRADUATES OF COLLEGE. 
ABEL CONANT, 

son of Dea. Abel and Margaret ^Jewett) Conant, born June i, 1784. 
Read law with Col. W. Hastings, in Townsend, Mass. Admitted • 
to the bar at Concord, Mass., in 1813. He practised his profession 
in Townsend and New Ipswich, N. H., and in 1S34 I'emoved to 
Lowell, Mass., and his health having partially failed he relinquished 
his profession, and afterwards turned his attention to the study of 
Chemistry and Mechanics, and became a useful and successful 
inventor. At an early day he is said to have invented the seraphine 
or parlor organ, and not long after the hollow auger, so much used 
by wheelwrights. While he lived at Lowell, he invented and 
patented the mortise door lock, now in common use, and the man- 
ufacture of which gives employment to so many persons. lie after- 
wards discovered and patented the process of raising bread with 
cream of tartar or other acids, also now in common use, but the dif- 
ficulty of preventing infringements upon patent rights deprived Mr. 
Conant. to a great extent, of personal advantage from liis inven- 
tions. He is said to have made many other improvements of the 
like character, and, to the day of his death, was engaged in per- 
fecting several new inventions whicli he cx2:)ccte(l [soon to make 
public. His habits were simple, retiring and exemplary, and his 
mind and memory remarkably clear till his last hours. Died at 
Lowell, April 12. 1875. vet. 90. 

DANIEL MOOAH, 

■son of Jacob and Dorcas (Hood) Mooar, born May 11, 1S15. He 
received an academical education at Milford, N. H., and Chester, 
Vt. Afterwards he went to Covington, Ky.. and read law at that 
place and at the law school in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was admitted 
to the bar in 1S43. "He settled and practised his profession in 
Covington for twenty-five years, and established a reputation as a 
profound lawyer, a safe counsellor — for business integrity, — and a 
high sense of honor, and several times filled the office of District 



LAWYER NOT GRADUATE. 323 

Judge." His health having become partially impaired by too close 
application to business, and, having acquired an ample fortune, he 
afterwards removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where he still resides, and is 
there engaged in extensive business. 

In a biographical sketch of Juclge Mooar, published in the His- 
torical Atlas of Lee county, Iowa, in December, 1S73, i* is said of 
him " that he is now among the substantial and solid men of 
Keokuk, and a man of decided ability and varied information. * * 
Such men are real ornaments to any community and Keokuk has 
been fortunate in adding such an one to her citizens." 



324 



BIOGRAPHICAT, SKETCHES. 



C M AFTER X X X . 

PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE PRACTISED THEIR PROFESSION IN HOLMS, 
AND MISCEM-ANEOUS BIOGRAPHICAL SKICTCHES. 

DR. JOHN HALE. 

(See p. 311, ante.) 

DR. JONATHAN FO.\ 

was from Dracut, Mass. Married Zerviah Jones. Settled in Mollis 
as a physician in 1778, at the age of 24, and was regarded as a 
young man of much promise, and soon gained the esteem and con- 
fidence of the people. In the years 1779 and 17S0, he was several 
times appointed a memher of the Hollis committee for raising men 
for the army, in which service he was very efficient and successful. 
He died in ITollis, nuich lamented, October 26, 1782, at the early 
age of 28, his death \)eing regarded ;is a public loss. His only 
daugliter Zerviah, born February 16, 1779, became the wife of Rev. 
Samuel Worcester, D. D. His youngest son, Ebenezer. a man of 
great industry and business ability, after iKnng for many years set- 
tled in his business in vSalem, iVlass., afterwards removed to Hollis, 
and became the owner of the farm now known as the '' Fox place." 
where he died December 6, 1857, a-t. 74. 

DR. JO \ A THAN POOL. 

(See p. 214, a//f(\ ) 

DR. WILLI AAf HALE. 

(See p. 211, ante.) 

DR. BENONI CUTTER 

was a son of John and Susannah (Ha.stings) Cutter, born in New 
Ipswich, N. II., in 1771. He settled as a physician in Hollis in 
1799, and married Phebe Tenney, oldest daughter of Capt. William 



[lOLLlS PHYSICIANS. 335 

Tenney of Hollis, May 30, iSoo. He was greatly respected, both 
as a citizen and as a physician, and in the year 1814 was appointed 
to the office of deacon of the Hollis church. Died in Hollis, 
January 17, 1816, a^t. 44. 

DR. I'ETER MANNING 

was born in Townsend, Mass. He settled in Hollis as a physician 
in 18 14 or 1 81 5, and in 181 7 he was a member of the School Com- 
mittee. He removed from Hollis to Merrimack in 1S18, and con- 
tinued in the practice of his profession in Merrimack till 1S38, and 
afterwards removed to Lunenburg, Mass., where he died. 

DR. OLIVER SCRIPTURE, 

son of Oliver and Jane Scripture, born in Mason, N. H., June 16, 
1783. Married Eliza, the youngest daughter of Hon. Timothy 
Farrar of New Ipswich. Dr. .Scripture settled in his profession in 
Hollis in the year 1S18, as successor to Dr. Manning, and continued 
his practice as a physician in Hollis till his death, November 7, 
i860, xt. 77. The inscription upon his tombstone, in the Hollis 
central burial ground, '^ The beloved Physician," is expressive of 
the affectionate esteem in which he was held by the people of the 
town. His father-in-law, Judge Farrar, passed the last years of his 
life in the family of Dr. Scripture, and died in Hollis, February 3i, 

1849, *^- ^^^ years, 7 months, i3 days. 

DR. ORVaLEE M. COOPER 

was a native of Croydon, N. H., and graduated at the medical 
school at Hanover, in 1845. Dr. Cooper settled in his profession 
in Hollis, in 1S46, and died in Hollis, February, 1847. 

DR. JOIIX I,. COEBY, 

settled in Hollis as a physician in 1847, soon after the decease of 
Dr. Cooper, and in 1848 he was a member of the School Com- 
mittee in Hollis. In 1850 he removed from Hollis to Manchester, 
Mass., and about two years afterwards to Harlem, N. Y., where he 
is still supposed to reside. 

DR. LOCKIIART B. FARRAR 

was born in Walpole, N. H., and was a graduate of the medical 
school in Castleton, Vt. Settled in his profession in Hollis, in 

1850, upon the removal of Dr. Colby. In 1852 he also removed 
from Hollis to Manchester, Mass., and afterwards to the State of 
Illinois. 



326 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

DR. WILLIAM A. TRACY, 

son of Elisha L. Tracy, was born in Tunbridge, Vt., May 3, 1826. 
Attended medical lectures at Boston, Woodstock, Vt., and Hano- 
ver, N. H. Settled in his profession in Ilollis, succeeding Dr. 
Farrar in September, 1S52. Removed from Hollis to Nashua, in 
August, 1854, Appointed Surgeon of the 6th New Hampshire In- 
fantry, October 35, 1S61. Resigned on account of ill health, 
March it;, 1863, and returned to Nashua. Died at Nashua, March 
15, 1S64, a;t. 37. 

DR. HENRY BOYNTOX, 

son of Isaac Boynton, l^orn in Pepperell, Mass. vStudied medicine 
at the medical school in Woodstock, Vt, Settled in his profession 
in Hollis in September, 1S54, as successor to Dr. Tracy. Prac- 
tised his profession in Hollis till 1S58, when he removed to Wood- 
stock, Vt., and was succeeded by Dr. George P. Greeley. Ap- 
pointed Assistant Surgeon of the 7th New Hampshire Infantry, 
October 15, 1S61. Resigned January 34, 1S64, and returned again 
to Woodstock. 

DR. HENRY W. WILLOUGHBY. 

(See page 331, ante.) 

DR. GEORGE R. GREELEY, 

son of Ezekiel Greeley, was born in Nashua, N. H. Attended 
medical lectures at Woodstock, Vt., Hanover, N, IL, and at the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city, where he 
graduated in 1857. Settled as a physician in Hollis in 1858. 
iVppointed Assistant vSurgeon of the vSecond New Hampshire regi- 
ment, May, 1861 ; .Surgeon of the Fourth New Hampshire regi- 
ment, October 8, 1S63 ; honorably discharged, October 33, 1864. 
After leaving the army, he settled in his profession, fir.st in Boston, 
and afterwards, in 1873, removed to Nashua, where he still practises 
his profession (1S79). 

DR. ELLERY CHANNINCi CLARKE. 

was a son of Rev. .Stillman Clarke, and was born in Winchester, 
N. H., March 31, 1836; entered Harvard college in 1855, and left 
in 1857. Studied medicine with Professor Albert Smith of Peter- 
borough, N. II., and graduated at the medical college at Bur- 
lington, Vt., in i860. Settled in Ilollis in the spring of 1861, 



XATHAN THAYER. 327 

succeeding Dr. Greeley. Appointed Assistant Surgeon of the 
Eighth New Hampshire United States Infantry, January i8, 1862 ; 
promoted to Surgeon, June 5, 1863 ; discharged for disability, 
August, 1864; afterwards settled in Westfield, Mass. 

DR. SYLV'ANUS BUNTON 

was born in Allenstown, N. H. Graduated at Dartmouth college 
in 1S40. Studied medicine in Baltimore. Settled in his profes- 
sion in Manchester, N. H., where he continued till June, 1864, 
and was then appointed Assistant Surgeon of the 7th New Hamp- 
shire U. S. regiment, and in August, 1864, was promoted to Sur- 
geon. Mustered out July 20, 1865, and after leaving the army, 
settled in his profession in Hollis, where he remained about three 
years, and then removed to Mont Vernon, N. H. 

DR. ADONIJAII W. HOWE, 

son of Dr. Luke Howe, was born in Jaftrey, N. H., September, 
25, 1825. Graduated at the medical college in Hanover in 1850. 
Settled as a physician in Dunstable, Mass., in 1S51. Came to 
Hollis in March, 1861, Removed from Hollis in 1865, and now 
in 1879, resides in Greenville, N. H. 

DR. CHARLES G. COREY 

was born in Jaffrey, N. H. Graduated at the medical college in 
Hanover, N. H., in 1857. Settled in his profession in Hollis in 
1867, where he remained from three to four years, and then 
removed to Greenville, N. H., and died at Greenville, October 19, 
1878, xt. 54. 

NATHAN THAYER, 

(Contributed by Miss G. A. Bovtwell, a granddaughter.) 

son of Elijah and Sarah (Robinson) Thayer, was born in Milford, 
Mass., July 6, 1781. He was a descendant of Thomas Thayer, who 
came to this country from England about 1630, and settled in Brain- 
tree, which town is supposed to have been named by the Thajer 
family in honor of their English birth-place. A son of Thomas 
Thayer settled in that part of Mendon, Mass., which is now known 
as Milford, about 1665, and for successive generations, and for a 
period of over one hundred and tifty years, the ancestors of Mr. 
Thayer were citizens of that ancient town. At the early age of 



328 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

seventeen, Mr. Thayer came to Ilollis '• to seek his fortune." He 
liad for his capital, a common school education, and a good knowl- 
edge of the trade of house painting. His name appears first on the 
Hollis tax lists in 1S03. Mr. Thayer was so good a workman 
that he was called frequently to Peppcrell, Groton, and even as fur 
away as Andover to pursue his trade. He took especial pleasure 
in the society of those places, and on his return would tell his chil- 
dren pleasant anecdotes of the Prescotts, Lawrences, and the 
learned professors of Andover. He was a welcome guest in many 
homes in those towns, and one of his daughters, who went to school 
in Andover, recalls with pleasure the consideration which she re- 
ceived on her father's account. 

For thirty years, Mr. Thayer employed his leisure of the winter 
months in teaching school. In the early part of this century, 
.schools of the higher grades were almost unknown, and all those 
inclined to study were dependent upon the district schools, and 
many young men, as well as the children, availed themselves of his 
instruction. He was an especially good grammarian, and by com- 
mon consent all knotty questions in grammar were referred to him 
by the other teachers. 

He was a member of the Hollis examining vSchool Committee in 
1S17, 1S18, 1S21, 1822, 1S25, and 1S27; and of the .Superintending 
School Committee, in 1S28, 1829, and 1830. He was also a Justice 
of the Peace from 1822 to 1830, and a Representative to the New 
Hampshire General Court in 1812, 1819, 1S20, and 1821. April 2, 
1807, he married Hannah Jewett, daughter of Dca. .Stephen Jewett, 
jun. .She died March 17, 1824. .She was the mother of six daugh- 
ters and one son, all but one (the fourth daughter) survived her. 
Mr. Thayer married ISlarch 27, 1S25, Mary Jewett, a sister of his 
first wife. She was the mother of two children, both of whom died 
in infancy. She died October 16, 1833. ^^'■- Thayer died October 
21, 1S30, aet. 49. 

JAMES BLOOD, 

son of .Solomon and Priscilla (French) Blood, was born in Hollis, 
May 20, 1793, and died in Newburyport, Mass., June 27, 1S76, ast. 
83 years. For the following obituary tribute to the memory of Mr. 
Blood, I am indebted to the Merrimack Family Visitor, published 
at Newburyport, of the date of July i, 1876. "Mr. Blood came 
to this city in the year 1S25, poor, respectable, industrious and 



JAMKS rAUKER. JUN. 329 

intelligent. His life was a success, and in all controllable events just 
what he would ha\ c it. Wc doubt if he would materially change 
it if he had to live it over again. He enjoyed the most perfect 
health till old age. lie was one of the most industrious persons 
that ever lived, and his happiness was in his business. He loved 
to work for the sake of it, and would have continued to do so, 
though no gains should have come from it. But his business yielded 
its profits till his estate grew to exceed all his early expectations. His 
fellow citizens did not fail to appreciate his virtues, his integrity, 
his independent thought and straightforward action ; and they hon- 
ored him with a seat in the legislature, and many local offices, 
while, without his own solicitation, he was made Collector of Cus- 
toms under two national administrations. 

"Mr. Blood enjoyed life — in his nature he was happy. Under the 
gravity of his demeanor there vvas a quiet humor, and in the busiest 
moments of his most busy days, he was lively and witty — to old age 
ever seeing the bright side of events and the sunny spots of life. 

" He was a man of firm convictions and religious faith which 
never deserted him. Life and death to him were equally natural 
and desirable, and he had no wish to stay here when his mission on 
earth was accomplished, nor any fear that he should not awake 
from his last sleej? to renewed activities and joys. Death was not 
therefore shaded with fears, nor the grave with gloom. He went 
not like a cringing slave to punishment, but lay down quietly and 
hojDefully as to pleasant dreams His funeral was from his residence 
on Friday mornings appropriate in time, for he was one of those to 
say, ' bury mc in the mornings ^vhen the sun vnll be upon my 
grave.'' " 

JAMES PARKER, JUN., 

son of James and Betsey (Wright) Parker, was born in Hollis, 
April I, 1815, and died in vSpringfield, IMass., Jan, 3, 1874, iet. 58. 
The following appreciative biographical sketch of Mr. Parker is in 
substance to be found in the October number of the New England 
Historical and Genealogical Register for 1S74, p. 475. 

" Mr. Parker was a native of Hollis. In 1833 he 'mounted the 
stage box' as a stage driver. In 1836 he became agent for Burt and 
Billings' stage line, between Worcester and Springfield, and con- 
tinued in that capacity till the Western railroad was opened, when 
like Ginery Twitchell and others who had shown eminent ability in 
managing the ' whip and ribbons,' he was taken into the new service 



330 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

of transporting passengers and freight. Mr. Parker had charge 
of the first train of cars from Boston to Springfield, and his atten- 
tion to passengers and gentlemanly bearing soon proved that he was 
' the right man in the right place.' His pleasant countenance and 
never-failing urbanity will long be remembered by the thousands 
wlio had occasion to pass over that road during many of the earlier 
years of its existence. 

" The first train from Boston to Springfield made the trip in 
exactly six horns, and Mr. Parker received many compliments, not 
only for what was regarded as remarkable speed, but also for his 
accurate observance of that ' old time table.' The train bearing 
among others, the directors of the road, left Boston at seven o'clock, 
A. M., and arrived at .Springfield at i o'clock, P. M.,- September 
27, 1839. T'""*^ opening of the road was an event of such general 
rejoicing that it was publicly celebrated in Springfield upon the 
arrival of the first train under the command of Mr. Parker. So 
closely did Mr. Parker attend to his new duties, that for nineteen 
years after he entered upon them, he had been west of the Con- 
necticut river but once, and it was jocosely said of him, that he did 
not know how the Springfield Armory looked, as he had seen only 
its back side for fifteen years. When Mr. Parker resigned his posi- 
tion as conductor, he was appointed superintendent of the sleep- 
ing cars, between Boston and New York, and in April, 1S73, he 
was made superintendent of all the sleeping, parlor, passenger and 
baggage cars of all the trains between the two cities. During the 
twenty-nine years of his service as conductor, he is said to have 
travelled in that capacity, without serious accident to life or limb of 
his passengers, more than 1,500.000 miles, a distance equal to 
sixty times around the globe, and a greater distance, as is believed, 
than that of any other known railroatl conductor. 

•' Upon Mr. Parker's retirement from office, an elegant gold w^atch 
was presented to him by his friends who had often travelled under 
his assiduous care, and the employees of the road gave him a val- 
uable horse and carriage in token of their high appreciation of his 
services. In 1S71 and 1S73, he was elected a member of the Mas- 
sachusetts House of Representatives. His house was filled w^ith 
curiosities, old books, rare drawings, and other specimens of hand- 
icraft, which show that if he had devoted his life to art or to Archaj- 
logical pursuits, he would probably have liad but few superiors 
in these departments of knowledge. By reason of his interest in 




7^iyVi.^A^^y^/:2i^^ 



HENRY OILMAN LITTLE. 33 1 

these pursuits, he was admitted to a resident membership in the 
New England Historical and Genealogical Society, November 24, 
1862, and he was also an honorary member of the New Hampshire 
Historical Society." 

HENRY OILMAN LITTLE 

was the sixth of the thirteen children of Abner B. and Nancy 
(Tenney) Little, and was born in Goflstown, N. H,, March 31, 
1813. During his infancy, his parents removed to Hollis, where he 
lived till his eighteenth year, enjoying such advantages for educa- 
tion as were then aftbrded in the Beaver Brook district, viz., two 
months of school in winter, and three in summer. In 1830, he 
left his paternal home- in Hollis, and spent the next six years in 
Wethersfield, Ct., partly in study and teaching, and in part in labor. 
In March, 1836, ne married Fidelia M. Stoddard, of Newington, 
Ct., and removed to the then new State of Illinois, and the next 
year settled in Henry county, where he passed thirty years of an 
active and busy life, engaged in agriculture, and filling various 
important offices of public trust. During the first year of his resi- 
dence there he took part in organizing the county, and was elected 
Justice of the Peace, an office he held for twelve years and more. 
In 1850 he was High Sheriff', and Collector of the whole revenue of 
the county — at that time a position of great responsibility, there 
then being neither a safe, bank nor jail in the county. In 1S56 he 
was elected to the Illinois legislature, of which he was for two 
years a member. He was for five years President of the Henry 
County Agricultural Society, which he had helped to organize. 
He was probably at no time free from public trust and duty, either 
as an officer of State, the county, town, church or school board. 

In 1867 he removed to Grinnell, Iowa, on account of the educa- 
tional advantages aftbrded by the college at that place. Here for 
four successive terms he has been elected Ma3'or of that city, and 
for most of the time has served as school director, and trustee of 
the church and society, and at Grinnell, (as in his former home), 
many substantial and tasteful improvements will long bear witness 
to his skill and public spirit. 

In 1878 he was elected by the Iowa legislature one of the five 
trustees of the State Agricultural college, a post of high trust and 
great responsibility, involving the care of the endowment fund of a 
half million of dollars, together with the direction and management 



332 BIOGRAPinCAI, SKETCHES. 

of the flourishino- college of two hundred and fifty students with 
its large faculty, and the college farni of eight hundred acres. 

At the age of sixtv-five Mr. Little remains with unbroken health, 
unabated vigor, energy and usefulness. Though afflicted by the 
loss of an only son at the age of sixteen, he has reared to woman- 
hood a family of five daughters, of Avhom three have graduated 
from college, and all are now married. lie has still, as always in 
the past, a cheerful, attractive and hospitable home, and as yet has 
no thought of retiring from active life. 

LUTHER PRESCOTT HUBBARD, 

was born in ilollis, June 30, iSoS, and was the oldest child of 
Luther and Hannah (Russell) Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard, in his 
childhood and youth, attended the public schools in the Middle dis- 
trict in Hollis, and w as for a short time a pupil in the Pinkerton 
academy at Derry. He helped to l)uild tlie lirst cotton mill in 
Nashua in 1S34 ; afterwards the Bunker hill monument, and also 
superintended the fitting of the granite for the Tremont hotel in 
Boston. 

His views in respect to and against the use of tol)acco have been 
widely published b}- the American Tract vSocicty, by the religious 
and secular press, and also in the vSailor's Magazine. 

Mr. Hubl)ard has been for twenty years a corresponding mem- 
ber of the Iowa State Historical .Society, and is an honorary mem- 
ber of the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society, and is the author 
of a Genealogy, entitled ''Descendants of George Ilublnird from 
1600 to 1S72," pulilished in tlie \ear last named, and tracing his 
family line ten generations. The last fortv-five years of his life 
have l)een zealously, and usefully devoted, mostly tf) the interests of 
seamen. For many years he has been the financial agent of the 
American Seamen's Friend vSociety, and also Secretary of the New 
England vSociet}' of the city of New York, both of which offices he 
still holds and fills acceptably. 

He now resides in Greenwich. Connecticut, the State of his hon- 
ored progenitor, George Hubbard, one of the first settlers of \\'eth- 
ersfield. Ct.. in 1634, but has his office in New York cit} . 

JOSEPH WHEAT, AN OI.D-Tl.ME STA(iE.I)R I VER. 

Joseph Wheat, famous eighty years ago as a stage-dri\er, came 
to Ilollis in his youth, with his father, soon after the Revolution. 



JOSEPH WHEAT. "53^ 

He was liy trade a cooper, and l)iiilt and owned tlie honse on the 
main road leading from Ilollis to Amherst, which, in 1796, he sold 
to Dea. Enos Hardy, and which was for many years afterwards the 
well-known homestead of Deacon Hardy. .Soon after this sale, 
Wheat removed to Amherst and became interested in a line of 
stages, both as owner aiul driver, — the line rumiing from Concord 
and beyond to Boston. 1 am indebted mainly to Rev. Dr. Bonton's 
History of Concord for the following humorons anecdotes of this 
primitive stage driver.* 

" Of Joseph Wheat, who will be recollected as almost if not 
quite the first driver of a stage into Concord, and whose ?wse will 
be remembered loiig'^ I have two or three anecdotes. At one time 
being complained of l)y the people of Amherst, (one of the towns on 
his stage route,) that he did not give the customary notice of his 
approach by blowing a tin horn, he replied to this complaint 
through the Amherst Cabinet, ' that he was too poor to buy a tin 
horn, but that, in the future, when they should see his nose they 
might expect the stage in ten minutes.' 

'' Upon another occasion, stopping for his breakfast one frosty 
morning, a somewhat dainty passenger, sitting at the table opj^osite 
to him, and observing the effects of the cold coming from his nose, 
rudely requested Wheat to wipe it. ' Wipe it yourself,' coolly 
answered the driver, ' my nose is nearer to you than to me.' 

" Again, when driving his stage from Concord to Hanover, he 
met Rev. Dr. Wlieelock, president of the college, riding in his car- 
riage. As he was about to pass the jiresident, Wheat took hold of 
his nose and, turning it one side, said, ' I think, Air. President, you 
can pass now.' " 

Tt seems that Mr. Wheat, among other gifts and graces pertaining 
to his calling, had also that of verse 7naki}ig. As an illustration 
of the commendable change in the tastes and hal)its of the patrons 
of public stage coaches since the dram-drinking days of eighty 
years ago, we quote the closing stanza of one of Mr. Wheat's 
poetic ctlusions, giving notice to the public of his having estab- 
lished a new line of stages. 

"Come, my old Friends, ."ind take a seat 
In this new Line with Joseph Wheat, 
And when to your journey's end you've come, 
Your friend will treat with gfood old Rum." 

*Bouton's History of Concord, p. 577. 



334 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Another similar poetic effusion of his was the following adver- 
tisement of his business as a cooper. 

" My advice to farmers all 

Is — Pick v'Hir apples as they fall. 
And if your cider's pure and sweet, 

Please buy your casks of Joseph Wheat." 



THE HOLLIS HERMITS. 
DR. JOHN JONES. 

There were two persons, formerly living in Hollis, somewhat 
famous in their day as " Hermits," viz., John Jones, commonly 
called " Dr. Jones," and Stephen Y. French, better known as 
*' Leather French." Jones, the first named, according to the tra- 
ditions of him, was the son of a wealthy British military officer of 
good family, born in England in the early part of the last century, 
and came to this country while yet a young man. After coming to 
America he is said to have lived a solitary, wandering life, till he 
came to Hollis soon after the war of the Revolution. 

Upon settling in Hollis, he bought for himself a patch of ground 
of about four acres in the north part of the town, at a distance from 
any public road, near Mooar's hill so called, and now a part of 
the farm of Lot Mooar. Here he built for himself a small humble 
dwelling, which he called his "Lone Cottage." He set out on his 
grounds an orchard of choice varieties of grafted apple and other 
fruit trees, and also many kinds of shrubs, herbs and flowers, which 
he took great pains to cultivate, and it is said of him that he was 
the first person to introduce grafted fruit into Hollis. 

In his youth Dr. Jones was crossed in love, as a result of which 
his mind became vuisettlcd and distracted, and his disappoint- 
ment ended in his eccentricities and wayward mode of life. He 
is reputed to have been educated for the pulpit, and at the early 
age of twenty, had had and accepted a call to settle in the min- 
istry, which was broken off by his disappointment and the untimely 
death of his lady love. He was a person naturally of bright intel- 
lect, of much humor and ready wit, reputed somewhat of a poet, 
and some of his effusions in verse have come down to the present 
day. 

Before coming to Hollis, he had written and published a long bal- 
lad, of near forty stanzas, telling the sad story of his life and 
troubles, entitled the " Major's only son and his True Love." My 



THE HOLLIS HERMITS. 335 

limits do not allow me to copy but a few extracts from this ballad. 
In its first stanza, its author says, 

"Come all young people far and near, 
A lamentation you shall hear 
Of a young man and his True-Love 
^ Whom he adored and prized above 

All riches." * * * * 

This ballad was learned by heart and sung sixty years ago by 
hundreds of the " young people" of Hollis and the neighboring 
towns, and also was often sung by the doctor himself in loiid, sad 
tones, when alone in his " Lone Cottage." It appears from the 
recitals in the ballad that both the father and mother of the doctor 
were persistently and irreconcilably opposed to his marrying the 
maid of his choice, as he says, 

" Because she was of low degree 
And came of a poor family." 

Angry at this opposition of the father and mother of the doctor, 
one day when Jones was visiting the young lady, her father said to 
him, as the ballad has it, 

"' My daughter is as good as you," and 

Turned this young man without his door 
And told him to come there no more." 

After this enforced separation the young lady took to her chamber, 
sickened, pined away and soon after died. Shortly before her death 
she sent her brother for the "yoiuig man," to whom she told the 
sad tale of her sickness and sorrow. Taking the engagement rings 
from her fingers just before her death she gave them to him, saying, 

"Keep them for my sake 

And always when these rings you see, 
Remember that I died for thee." * * 
/ " Tears down his cheeks as fountains run, 

He cried, alas! 'I am undone. 
No comfort ever shall I have, 

Wiiile I go mourning to my grave.'" 

The "young man" attended the funeral of his betrothed as chief 
mourner, as the ballad has it, 

" Dressed in black from top to toe * * 
And after that distracted run, 
And so forever was undone, 

And wandered up and down, alone." 

While living in Hollis Jones supported himself in part by raising 
and preparing medicinal herbs, and various nostrums from them, 
which he peddled in Hollis and other towns near, hence his title of 



3^6 RIOGRAPIIK Al. SKETCHES. 

" Doctor."' In his wanderings about the countjy he usually wore a 
broad brimmed hat with a mourning weed around it, and a long, 
plaid dressing gown. In his thus going about, he carried with him 
two baskets, one in each hand, the one of which he named the 
" Charity." the other the •• Pity basket." In these he carried for 
sale and barter his herbs and nostrums, and also " Liberty tea," so 
called, and, in their season, juniper berries, and scions for grafting, 
from his orchard, taking home with him, in the same baskets, the 
articles he got in exchange. lie also kept for sale copies of verses 
written by him, including tlic ballad telling the story of his 
troubles. 

Years ago, and within my own remembrance, many anecdotes 
were told of his impromptu verses and rhymes, and of his humor and 
wit. His age at his death, as inscribed on his gravestone, was sixty- 
nine, though he was supposed to have been somewdiat older. But 
on this suliject he was very taciturn, and inclined to keep the secret 
of his age to himself. At one time, an unmarried lady customer of 
his, to whom he had soJtl some of his ''Liberty tea," of the name 
of Phebe (herself of uncertain age), took occasion to cjuestion him 
upon this matter, in the hope of solving the mystery. The doctor, 
in reply, told her that " she might ask him just as many questions 
as s/ic was years old." Nettled at this evasive answer, Phebe 
reproachfully called him an "■ old cracked hddle of one doleful 
tune," and demanded of him to take back his •' Liberty tea " and 
return her m()ne\'. In rej^lv to tliis demand the doctoi' said to her, 

" Pliclif, my lU-ar, my i>\vii sweet honcv, 

^'ou'vc L;ot your tea, ;itic1 I've Ljot my nuiiuT.'' 

It was his habit, as a spectator, to attend the courts at .\mherst. 
where, as he used to sa\ , the lawyers would try to get a ■• crumb of 
sport " out of him. i)\\ one occasion, having been l)antered h\ 
them for one of his impromptu stanzas, lie was afterwards invited 
by the host to eat at a second ta])le, tVom which the judges and law- 
yers had just risen from a dinner of roast poultry. Having finished 
his meal, on rising from the table, in place of his customary aftei" 
dinner grace, with one e^■e upon the hnvycrs. he gave expression to 
his sentiments in respect to his dinner and tlie _^'7/('.s7.s- at the first 
table in the tollowing terse couplet, 

■•Cursed he tlie owls 

That pieked tliese fowls; 
Anil left tlie bones 

Kor Dr. [ones/' 



DR. JOHN JOXES. 337 

For the following anecdote of Dr. Jones, I iun indebted to my 
friend, Hon. J. B. Hill, who tells nie that it was told him \)\ his 
father, Rev. Ebenezer Hill of Mason, who was cotempcjrary with 
Dr. Jones, and for many years a member of the HoUis Association 
of ministers. The doctor, as he savs of himself in his ballad, 
(having been educated for the ministry) at the time he lived in 
Hollis, was in the habit of attending the meetings of this Associa- 
tion of ministers, as well as the courts, not as a member^ but as one 
of the persons styled ^^ companv'' \n the records of the Associa- 
tion. On such occasions, he sometimes proposed for discussion 
questions in theology, which interested him, and at one time the 
following, "Was there ever a man that had a tongue which never 
told a lie, or a heart which never had an evil thought.'" This ques- 
tion was promptly answered by all present with a decided negative 
and " nailed wi' scripture." The doctor insisted on the affirma- 
tive — and said to them that he would prove that they were all 
wrong, and at once went to the door, and brought in one of his 
baskets, and uncovering it showed them the head and heart of a 
sheep, and pointing to them, exclaimed in triumph. • there is a 
tongue that never told a lie, and a heart that never had an evil 
thought, and they are both mine." 

On another occasion, calling at a liouse where lie \\ ished for din- 
ner, he said to the hostess, that if she would provide him one, he 
would write for her a suitable epitaph, two lines of which were to 
be composed before dinner, and two after. This l")argain being 
struck, he wrote for her the first two lines." 

•• Good old Sarah died ot' late, 

And just arrived at Heaven's i;;ite." 

The good lady concluded that these lines would tit lier case, and 
provided the dinner. But the entertaiiuiient not having been wholh' 
to the taste of the doctor, on rising from the table, and with one 
hand on the door latch, he added to the lirst two lines. 

•' Old (jabriel met her with a club 

And knocked her back to Beelzebub!" 

There were at that time, in Hollis, three young men to whom the 
doctor was strongly attached, and whom he called Ids adopted sons, 
viz., Thaddeus Wheeler, Jun., Timothy Emerson, and J. Coolidge 
Wheat, the last named, by trade, a stone cutter, and maker of grave- 
stones. During the life of Jones, and under his eye and direction. 

Wheat had made for him a large, neatly finished gravestone. fuUv 
(22) 



33^ BlOCiKAPlIK AI. SKKTCIIKS. 

completed ;\nd lettered, except the date ot" his death, with the epi- 
taph insovihe(l upon it, t"urnishod by (ho doctor, and copioci from a 
stanza ot" his balhul. Hv liis will dated januarx i, i^oi. the little 
estate that the doctor lott was i;i\on to his three adopted sons, with 
the single conditiiMi. that Wheat shouUl linish and set up his grave- 
stone. This gravestone i> now to he t'ouiul standing at the grave 
v)t" the dcHMor. near the north end ot" the central Iniiial ground in 
H(>llis. with the loUow ing inscrijitic*!! : 

"Or. 1<>iin Jonkn, 
Oic<i July 14, i7of\ .rl. f>Q. 

•' In yo(itli l\o \v.-»> ;) scIkiUv hrijjlu. 
In lca!ninj>: lie look great deHght, 
He was A Majin's <inly son, 

It was lov love l\o was uiutor.e." 



stkvhi:n ^(>^^•^;MA\ kukxcm 

Another soiiiew hat noted hermit, a native ot" IliiUis. was Stephen 
V. French, better kninxn by his acquired name o\ " Leather 
French."" a son ol" Joseph French, a Hollis soldier 0I" the Revolution, 
and Mary (^"ovu1gman) French, and was born in Ilollis. v^eptember 
23. i^vSi. l-^arl\ in life he wandered to I"xeter in tlie v^tate ot" 
Maine, where t"or many years he lixed in his little cabin as a her- 
mit, solitary and alone. lion. John H. Hill, the author o\ tlie 
historv ot" Mason, who was settle*! in his prolession as a lawxer 
in Fxeter 1"or several xe.ns. an<l was well acquainted with thi.s 
recluse. sa\ s ol" him. that he was harmless, simple mindcnl. poxertv 
stricken, and ot" feeble understanding. That it w as manitest that 
French and work of all sorts had had a tailing out at an earlv <la\ , 
and had parted company f'orever. Being utterlx destitute o\ l"am- 
il\ or triends. he took up his abode upon a tract ol land in Fxeter. 
known as the '' Hinricane."" t"or the reason that all attempts to set- 
tle it had been aba\idoned. the t"elled trees ha\ ing been lel"t on the 
grovmd to rot. o\ er which fires had run. and the land itself left to 
an overgrowth o\ brushwood, brambles and weeils. I pon this 
desolate and l"orsaken spot French built for himself a little hut. 
cleared otV a small patch o\ it t"or coii\ and vegetables, and there 
lived a lonely, w eary and poverty-stricken life vmtil. in old age, he 
t'ound shelter and a comfortable home in the Fxeter alms-house, 
where he died, at the age ol near eighty years. March S. 1S5S. 
His entire wardrobe was mainly of tanned sheepskins, hence hi* 



I.I' A I II I It I 1(1 N( II. 



XV) 



;tt.i|ii Ji <'il iiniiu- (il •• I.ciillici I'lciiili." 111'. ii;iiiic iiiid laiiit- liavc 
llCCIl |)(l |)(lliat«(l ill llic lollnw ill;/ |)l(;is;illl sl;ill/;r. I<> lli-^ II icl I H > I V , 
wupic'il Imiii ;i lilllc \<>liiiiu- ut pucins li\ I )a\ ul I'laiiui. I'!si|., laic 
t)( liaiifioi . Mc. wild w A' a iiati\c "I IlxcUi. 



"Id I.I.A I lii.K I m.Ncll. 

••N'.ui liuw li.uiiilr.l llu- ihciiJi:, c,l my ^lcr|i, l.c-;itlifi !■ irm jj, 

Vmi liiivf ii'oiihlfti iiif ofiPii 1111(1 loiijj ; 
And iiiiw to give- rest lo tin* waves of my soul, 
l-futlxr I'lriH'li, Ifl iiif slug yoii ii tii)ii({. 

"I bii|i|i<>:>r llu mill wiiiltl limy siifpr, l.ciidicr l-rciich, 
For l( liiia iloiK' an too til'lcii lit- iViif, 
When tile Iniiri'iiiit^l tipiiit liiiei aniilclic'd up iu luirp, 
JiiHt lo slin»(iVr ihf (•iiivf III' llif poor. 

"Never llliiul, let llleill liiii|{li, lei tliein aiieer, l.etltlier I'^rsilfll, 
We will not be illsturhed liy them ImiK, 
I'or we'll step iislile from the liiitlle of life, 
While I ipieiitiiin iiihI »lng you iisoiii!;, 

"N'lPii well- pimr when you lived here helnw, l.euther I'lfiicli, 
Aiul you sullered iVoin hunger ;iiid cold, 
.\lld It wits well you eSLii|icd Iriini Ihe blomi :out the lil;c:.l 
.\l Ihe lime you nicw weiiiy iind <dd. 

"ll;l^ lliiit iild leather ({iirh tlliit you wore, I.eiither I'Veiich, 
Thiit yiiu wore. In the diiyri Uuik; ago, 
Been exchiinged lor the rohe that you named in your prayer, 
I- .11 a rohe that is whiter than tiiiow? 

".Vnd that ilreary old hut where yon dwelt, Leather l-'rench, 
That old hut on the' llurrieane' laiuU, 
Was it bartered by you al the poilaU ol' death 
I'or a house not erecieil with hands? 
"W h.ii llir toys Ihut I love heiimie stale, Leather »rciiili. 
And my life's (itl'ul (ever is passed, 
Shall I biifely eross over the Jordan ol' Death? 
Sliall I meet you in Heaven at last? 

"Tell me iruc, ull me all, tell ine now, Leather I'reiuh, 
l-'or Ihe tale you lan tell me ib worth 
Ntore to me than the wisdom, the pleasure, the t'amr 
And the riihes and honors ol' earth. 

"Shall I meet no response to my lall. Leather Lrenih? 
Tell ine (|uli'lk for I cannot wait long, 
I'or I'm summoned again lo the battle ol" llfe,^ 
Lealhir In-iuh, I ha\e linl^luil my song:." 



The ptisoiial liio^iapliii al ski-ti. lii-s pi'i-si-uU-d in (lillirciil I'oiiiiec- 
tioiis in lliis liistoi'N , it is l(elii-\ cd. arc- more luiiiuniiis lliaii will he 
readily tniiiid in aii\ other liUe t<»\\ii historx. Still it is not to he 
presumed that these sketehes einhiaec- all llu- iiali\fs or |)erniaiiei)t 
residents ol the low ii who^-c names tlc-sei\i- hoiioiahle miiitioii. 



340 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCIIKS. 

Many others of the descendants of the early settlers, neither 
" graduates of college." nor known to the public as "• ministers,'' 
'• lawyers." "physicians, officeholders or politicians" are, doubt- 
less, equally worthy. Of these. man\ emigrated to other States 
or towns, and by their enterprise, intelligence and personal integ- 
rity, became honored citizens in their new homes. More of them, 
"wdiose sober wishes never learned to stray," settled in theit 
native town, and. " content to breathe their uaf/'vc air on theii 
own ground," have creditably sustained the good name of a worthy 
;ind lionored ancestrx . 



l.OXGEX'ITY. 



341 



C 11 A PT E R XX X I 



NAMES 01- SLiCtI PKRSONS AS J£AVE DECEASED SINCE TI{E WAR 
OE THE REVOEUTION. AT THE AGE OF EIGHTY YEARS OR 
MOKE. WHOSE AGES WITH THE DATE OF THEIR DECEASE 
HA\'E BEEN ASCKRIA INED. 



!783> 
178s, 



17S6, 
1787. 
1789, 



1790, 
•79'. 
'793. 
'795. 
•797. 
'.798. 
j8oo, 
1801, 
1803, 
»8o8, 



1809, 
)8ii, 
i8u, 

'813. 



1S14, 
• 81S. 



1816, 



May i-, 
Oct. 14, 
July 10, 
Nov. 7, 
June 2, 
Dec. 1.;, 



May 35, 
Oct. 5, 
Feb. 2, 
Sept. i3, 
May 20, 
Sept. 21, 
Oct. 2, 
Sept. 30, 
Feb. 7, 
Feb. 13, 
Mar. 6, 
Mar. 6, 
Apr. 12, 
July 27- 
Mar. 20, 
,\iig. 21 
Feb. g. 



Feb. 28, 
Apr. 261 
Mar. 7, 
May 24i 
Nov. 12, 
Sept. 24 
Jan. 10. 
Nov. S, 
Not. 13. 



Widow Martlia Il.irdy, 
Rev. Francis Worcester, 
Wid. Hannali Farr, 
Dea. Samuel Goodhue, 
Wid. Mary Harri.s, 
Lt. Benjamin Farley, in hi: 
Wid. Lydia Ulrich, 
Wid. Sarah Kemp, 
Mrs. Su.saana Jewctt, 
Dea. Nathaniel Jcwett, 
John Willoughby, 
Wid. Lydia Taylor, 
Wid. Joanna Farley, 
Wid. Anna Powers, 
Wid. Hannah Hunt, 
Rev. Daniel Emerson, 
Ensign Benj. Parker, 
Mrs. Margaret Jewett, 
James Jewett, 
I^t. Amos Eastman, 
Mrs. Abigail Hardy, 
Wid. Ker.ia Taylor, 
Zachariah Shattuck, 
, Wid. Catharine Thurston 
Capt. Reuben Dow, 
Mr.s. Esther Scott, 
Wid. Abigail Wright, 
Wid. Hannah Emerson, 
Wid. Ruth Boynton, 
Phineas Hardy, 
Samuel Obcr, 
Wid. Mehitablc Eastman, 
, Nicholas Youngman, 
Kehemiah Woods, 
Wid. Elizabeth Shattuck, 
Wid. Alice Parker, 



S2yrs, 


.1S17, 


Aug. 13, 


ss' 


181S, 


Jan. 2, 


92 


1S19, 


Apr. 27, 


90 


'S33. 


Jan. 31, 


Si 


1825, 


Jan- 3. 


s Soth y 


" 


Feb. 13, 


104. 4 m 


" 


June 7, 


00 


" 


.I"'y '7. 


hi 


1826, 


Sept. 25, 


Si 


" 


Oct. 6, 


ss 


1S27, 


Jan. 16, 


S3 


" 


Jan. 2S, 


So 


" 


Mar. 7, 


(10 


182S, 


Nov. 7, 


94 


1829, 


Jan. 7, 


■ 5*5 


" 


Jan. 29, 


S2 


1S30, 


April 7, 


Sa 


•• 


Oct. 2, 


85 


1831, 


May 


SS 


" 


May 24, 


82 




July 2, 


86 


1S32, 


Feb. 28, 


85 


" 


May 7, 


, 90 


" 


May a, 


81 


" 


Aug. 2, 


9< - 


" 


Oct. 26, 





'833. 


Jan. 


90 


" 


April 5, 


88 


'834. 


Oct. 10, 


86 


" 


Nov. 6, 


So 


" 


Dec. 12, 


, 88 


1S36, 


Feb. 19, 


91 


" 


April, 


S3 


.8.?7. 


Jan. 13, 


, SS 


" 




83 


" 


Dec. 12, 



, Noah Worcester, Esq., 
Abijah Gould, 
Jonas Flagg, 
Wid. Susanna Pierce, 
Wid. Hannali Parker, 
Miss Alice Powers, 
Wid. Martha Flagg, 
Wid. Lydia Dow, 
I Benjamin Saunderson, 
Lt. Ebenezer Jewett, 
Wid. SaraJi Hardy, 
Lt. Ebenezer Farley, 
Silas Spaulding, 
Thomas Patch, 
Wid. Miriam Dix, 
Daniel Lovejoy, 
Wid. Sarah Ilolden, 
Wid. Elizabeth Hale, 
Wid. Sarah Lovejoy, 
Wid. Lydia Lovejoy, 
Wid. Hepzibah Worcester, 
Wid. Hannah Ames, 
Phineas Hardy, Jun., 
Silas Marshall, 
Amos Eastman, Esq., 
Lt. Samuel Willoughby, 
William Ball, 
Lt. Caleb Farley, 
Jonathan Hobart, 
Wid. SIbbel Spaulding, 
Abel Brown, 
Wid. Elizabetli Powers, 
Wid. Sarah Eastman, 
Stephen Farley, 
Benjamin Abbott, 
Capt. John Clapp, 



Si yrs 

82 

87 

ss 

95 
SS 
84 
92 
80 

83 
86 
So 
So 

85 
90 

83 
90 
98 
83 
84 
.85 
81 
81 
86 
3i 
86 

84 

102, 5 U) 
81 



342 



LONGEVITY 



1838, Dec. 12, Wid. Abigail Ober, 

1839, Wid. Hannah W. Shattuck, 
" Nov. 1, Stephen Dow, 

1S41, Jan. 4, Wid. Sarah Brown, 
" Oct. 10, Wid. Priscilla Blood, 
" Oct. 29, Wid. Betty Austin, 

1842, Wid. Susannah Wood, 

" June 30, Wid. Mary Bailey, 
" Sept. 3, Mary, wife of Capt. D. 

Baile)', 
" Dec. 5, Miss Eunice Marshall, 

1543, Apr. II, Silas French 

" June 3, Wid. Rutli Farley, 

" Oct. 19, Wid. Abigail Kittridge, 

" Dec. 8, Wid. Sibbel Proctor, 

1544, Sept. 29, Moses Ames, 

JS47, Jan. I, Capt. William Brown, 
" Mar. 13, Capt. Daniel Bailey, 
" April 1, Wid. Sarah Worcester, 
" May II, Rev. Eli Smith, 
" Nov. 25, Jonas Woods, 

1848, Mar. 9, Wid. Mary Rockwood, 
'' Dec. 30, Wid. Abigail Runnells, 

1849, Jan. 21, Enoch Jewett, 
" June 4, David F"renc!i, 

" Oct. 5, Wid. Rebecca Ames, 

1850, May 24, Wid. Mary jewett, 

" Aug. 23, Jonathan Saunderson, 

1851, Mar. II, Wid. Abigail Colburn, 
" May 20, Wid. Rebecca Ball, 

" Aug. 4, Wid. Dorcas Mooar, 
" Sept. 24, James Jewell, 

1852, F"eb. 13, Wid. Sarah BI.khI, 
" May II, Solomon Hardy, 

" Sept. 25, Daniel Merrill, 

1853, Oct. 22, Wid. Azubah Wheeler, i 

1554, July 31, Daniel Dow, 

" Oct. 10, Dr. William Hale, 

1555, Mar. 25, Jonas Lawrence, 

" Sept. 28, Wid. Abigail Hardy, 
" Oct. 8, Samuel Smith, 

1856, May 8, Phineas H. Holden, 
" Dec. 13, Ruth Hall, 
" Dec. 15, Wid. Betsey Burge, 

1S57, Jan. 9, Wid. Rebecca Whiting, 
" May 18, Dea. Enos Hardy, 
" N0V.24, Wid. Sybil Holt, 
" Dec. 22, Capt. Isaac Parker, 
" Dec. 32, Lt. Edward Johnson, 

185S, Aug. 19, Wid. Olive Proctor, 
" Oct. 10, Wid. Esther Hale, 

1S60, Mar. 18, Simon Stone, 
" Aug. 4, Wid. Ama Smith, 
". Aug. 4, Wi<l. Sarah Pcol, 



93yrs 


. i860. 


95 


1861, 


82 


1S63, 


S3 


" 


95 


" 


<^>9 


1S63, 


Si 


1S64, 


90 


1865, 


84 


" 


93 


1S67, 


Si 


1S68, 


S7 


1S69, 


93 


" 


90 


" 


So 


1S70, 


So 


" 



1871. 



ss 


,872, 


ss 


" 


S4 


1S73, 


84 


" 


90 


'• 


S3 


" 



IS74. 



84 



IS77 



So 


" J"'y 30 


8S 


" Sept. I. 


82 


1878,' Feb. 6, 


So 


•• Mar. (, 


86 


•• Apr. 3, 


>^3 


1S79, Jan. 24, 



Nov. 3, Ebenezer Farley, 
Apr. 18, Capt. Thomas Proctor, 
Tan. 3, Wid. Olive Parker, 
Jan. 2, Wid. Fanny Lawrence, 
Oct. 18, Wid. Dorothy Wood, 
Jan. 26, Robert Colburn, 

" Miss Sarah F'.arley, 

Sept. 16, Benjamin M. Farley, Esq., 
Sept. 20, Dr. Joseph F. Eastman, 
Oct. 30, Nathan Colburn, 
May 13, Moses Truell, 
Apr. 25, Daniel Sliedd, 
Mar. 21, Wid. Hann;di Willoby, 
July 25, Wid. Sally Hardy, 
Sept. 26, Jonas Woods, 
Feb. Wid. Nancy Smith, 
Feb. 26, Maj. Jaines Wheeler, 
June 21, Jonas Blood, 

Wid. Hannah Hubbard, 
Jan. 9, Thaddeus Wheeler, 
Apr. 7, Mary Holden, 
Apr. iS, Thaddeus Marshall, 
May 6, Wid. Abigail Clough, 
Aug. 29, Wid. Estlier Wheeler, 
May 22, Capt. Jonathan T. Wright, 
Sept. iS, Simon Saunderson, 
Feb. 12, Asaph Spaulding, 
Feb. 21, Benjamin Ranger, 
May 14, John Shedd, 
June 12, Wid. SarahW. Richardson, 
Oct. 26, lames Farley, 
Dec. 3, Dea. William Emerson, 
Feb. 12, Mrs. Rebecca Baldwin, 
Feb. 25, Dea. Isaac Farlev, 
Feb. 26, Isaac Woods. 
May 17, Miss Polly Rockwood, 
Nov. 4, Wid. Susan Fox, 
Jan. 24, Wid. Lydia Colburn, 
Mar. II. Wid. Betsey H. Mooar, 
Mar. n, Wid. Bridget F'rench, 
June 25, Wid. Rebecca Blood, 
Dec. g, Wid. Sally Hale, 
Jan. 31, Joseph Shattuck, 
Jan. 31, Wid. Susanna Blood, 
Mar. 24, Capt. Jeremiah Dow, 
Ajir. Wid. Nancy Wright, 
Wid. Ruth Farley, 
, Oliver Willoby, 
Jesse Hardy, 
Ebenezer F'arley, 
Wid. Abigail Smith, 
Wid. Elizabeth Woodward, 
Fell. 22. Wid. Hannah Russell, 
Mar. S. Wid. Sarah Austin, 



86yrf 
Si 
89 
87 
84 
86 

S3 

S« 
93 
So 
84 
S3 
84 

95 
S7 
86 
84 
96 
90 
97 
SS 
96 
S2 
84 
S4 
Si 
93 
80 
Si 

S4 
82 
82 

S7 
90 
S2 
89 
84 
SS 



MARRIAGES IX CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 



343 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

MARRIAGES TO BE FOUND RECORDED IN THE RECORDS OF THE 
DISTRICT OK DUNSTABLE. 



1743. 


Feb. 


7. 


17+4. 


Oct. 


9< 


.^ 


Dec. 


Hi 


'745- 


Jan., 


4. 


" 


Feb. 


9. 


" 


Mar. 


2, 




May 


6. 


'< 


Nov. 


, 



Elias Dickey and Rose McDaniels.both of West Dunstable. 
Samuel Farley and Hannah Brown, " " 

John Brown and Kezia Wheeler, " " 

Benjamin Blanchard and Kezia Hastings, " " 

Thomas Nevins of W. Dunstable and Bridget Snow of Nottingham. 
Joseph Farley of W. Dunstable and Esther Spalding of Litchfield. 
Josiah Conant of West Dunstable and Catharine Emerson of Reading. 
Robert Colburn and Elizabeth Leeman, both of W. Dunstable. 
John Bovnton, Jun. of W. Dunstable and Lydia Jewett of Rowley. 
Jacob Blanchard and Elizabeth Lawrence, both of W.Dunstable. 
Wm. Shattuck of W. Dunstable and Experience Curtis of Nottingham. 



MARRIAGES RECORDED IN THE FIRST THREE VOLUMES OF THE 
HOLLIS RECORDS. 

Jonathan Danforth and Anna Blanchard. 
William Adams and Mary Spear. 

Rev. Daniel Emerson and Hannah Emerson of Maiden. 
Joshua Blanchard of Hollis and Sarah Burge, Chelmsford, "pnblish'd." 
Robert Colburn of Monson and Elizabeth Smith of Hollis, " 

Nathaniel Clement of Hancock and Wid. Hannah Cummings of H. pub. 
James Wheeler and Mary Rnttertield. 
Jonathan Melvin and Mary Brooks. 
Peter Wheeler and Mehitabel Jewett. 
Oliver Lawrence and Marj' Cummings. 
Eleazer Cumings and Martha Brown. 
Timothy Cook of Hollis and Abigail Wheat of Concord. 
Samuel Burge and Joanna Farley. 
Matthew Wallace and Jean Lesley. 
Whitcomb Powers and Mary Dolliver. 
Samuel Whittemore and Olive Blanchard. 
Josiah P'isk and Sarah Colburn. 

Aaron Colburn of Dracut and Phebe Harris of Holli'j. 
Josiah Blood of Hollis and Sarah Hej"wood of Chelmsford. 
John Astin and Sarah Hastings, both of Hollis. 
Moses Smith and Mary Boynton " " 

Samuel Brown and Mary Glene " " 

Joseph Bates of New Ipswich, and Phebe Powers of Hollis. 
Nehemiah Woods of Hollis, and Sarah Lakin of Groton. 



'74.^ 


.May 


H< 


1744. 


" 


^9. 


" 


.\ov. 


7, 


'747. 


Sept. 


12, 


" 


Mar. 


21, 


'74S, 


Aug. 


12, 


'750. 


Nov. 


I, 


'" 


Dec. 


4. 


I7S". 


Mar. 


'9. 


'752. 


Dec. 


27. 


'753. 


Apr. 


I, 


1754. 


May 


1, 


1754. 


June 


3, 


'755. 


May 


6, 
20, 
37. 


" 


June 


2| 


** 


Nov. 


6, 

37. 


175^. 


Jan. 


I, 
»9. 


" 


Mar, 


.35. 


r- " 


Apr. 


. 8, 



'7St>. 


Nov. 10, 


'757. 


Jan. S. 


" 


.S' 


" 


Feb. 2i, 


- .. 


July 11, 


" 


Aug. 2, 


" 


Sept. 1 3, 


" 


" IS. 


'7.";«. 


Feb. 23, 


" 


Apr. 20, 


" 


May 30, 


" 


Nov. 16, 


'759. 


Mar. 29, 


'• 


" 21, 


" 


Dec. 6, 


1760, 


F-eb. 7, 


" 


Mar. 25, 


" 


Apr. 24, 


" 


July i€, ■ 



344 MARRIAGES IN CflRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 

Edward Taylor and Sarah Sanders, both of Hollis. 
Stqphen Powers of Hollis and Lucy Cuiiiings of Dun.>table. 
John Brooks and Mary Kemp, both of Hollis. 
Noah Worcester and Lydia Taylor " " 

Joshua Smith of Hollis and Hannah Baidwin of Townsend, 
James Whiting of Hollis and Mary Douglas of Pepperell. 
Nathaniel BlancJinrd and Elizabeth Rolfe, both of Hollis. 
Thomas Colbiirn of Pepperell and F-sther Flagg of Hollis.. 
Ezekiel Jewett and Lucy Tcwnsend, both of Hollis. 
Apr. 20, Zerubbabel Kemp and Hannah Colburn, both of Hollis. 
Jacob Foster and Lydia Barrett, " " 

Jonathan Russ of Hollis and Lucy Kendall of Litchfield. 
William Brooks and Abigail Kemp, both of Hollis. 
Stephen Martin and Patience Worcester, " " 
Eleazer Stearns and Elizabeth Pierce, ^' ■' 
Caleb Stiles and ElizabetliTownsend, " " 
Richard Warner of Pepperell and Hannah Eastman <if Hollis 
John Campbell of Townsend and -Sarah Barton of Hollis. 
Jonas Willoughby and Hannah Bates, both of Hollis. 
" Sept. I, James French and Sarah Brooks, " " 

" Nov. ij, John Atwell and Bridget Cumings, " " 

" " 27, Josiah French and Sarah Astin, " " » 

1761, Ian. 22, Samuel Brown and Mary Wheeler, " " 
" Apr. 2, William .Shattuck of Hollis and Zilpha Turner of Lancaster. 

" Nov. 2. Francis Blood and Elizabeth Spalding, both of Hollis. 

" Dec. 24, David Wright of Pepperell and Prudence Cumings id }folli*. 

1762, Jan. 7, Ephraira Burge and Anna Abbot, both of Hollis. 
" " 27, James Hobart and Hannah Cumings " " 
" Feb. 23, Ebenezer Kendall and Lucy Cumings " " 
" Mar. 18, Amos Fisk and Elizabeth Flagg " " 
" June2i, Zachariali Paiker and Elizabeth Brown, both of Hollis. 

William Waters of Townsend and Mary Lesley of HoUis- 
Timothy Astin and Elizabeth Ames, both of Hollis. 
Jonathan Fowler and Lucy Kemp, " " 

'I'liomas Boynton and Abigail Elliot, " " 
lileazer Parker and Dinah Farnsworth, " " 
Francis Powers and Fl^lizabeth Cumings, both of Hollis. 
Joseph .Stearns and Mary Shattuck of Monson. 
Jotham Cumings and Anna Brown, both ot Hollis. 
Isaac Powers and Abigail Sanders, " " 

Nathaniel Blood and Esther Hobart, " " 

)ob Harris of Athol and Eleanor Harris of Hollis. 
Thomas Pratt and Caty Cumings, both of Hollis. 
Peter Stearns and Abigail Wheat, both of Hollis. 
(onathan Powers of Dunstable and Susannah Willoughby of 
Ezekiel Jewett and Anna Williams, both of Hojlis, 
Levi Fletcher of Dunstable and Phebe Stearns of Hollis. 
'I'homas Merrill of Pembroke and Abigail Ambrose of Hollis.. 
lames Gould and Mary Lovejoy, both of Hollis. 
Silas Brown and Lucy Wheeler, " " 

Richard Pierce and -Susannah Jewett, both of Hollis 
Trueworthy Smith and Sarali Taylor, " 
Elnathan Blood and Deborah Plielps, '• •• 

Ehenezer Farley and Betty Wheeler, " " 

Swallow Tucker and Lucretia Carter, " " 

Isaac Stearns and Rebekah Jewett, " " 

David Wallingford and Elizabeth Leeinan. both of Monson. 
Christopher Lovejoy and Hannah Kemp, both of Hollis. 



1762, 


July 1, 


.. 


Sept. 20, 


1763. 


Feb. 24, 


" 


May 5, 


" 


June 9, 


" 


Apr. 27. 


" 


-Sept. 1 , 


1764, 


Jan. 20. 


" 


Feb. 14, 


" 


Sept. 27, 


" 


" ^. 


" 


Nov. 2S, 


'76.1. 


Feb. 28, 


" 


Apr. 1, 




" 2, 


" 


Aug. 27, 


" 


Oct. S, 


J766, 


May 22. 


- " 


" 29. 


" 


June 5. 


" 


Nov. b, 


" 


" -!7. 


'767, 


Feb. 26. 




Mar. 6, 


" 


June 9, 



1767, 


Oct. 


22, 


:: 


Nov 


'9. 
'9. 


176S, 


Jan. 


2S, 


" 


Mar 


24. 


" 


Apr 


21, 


" 


July 


7> 


" 


Nov. 


3i 



MARRIAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 345 

Josliua Davis and Doroth)' Wlieeler. Iiotli of Hollis. 
Daniel Lovejoy and Sarah AVynian. " " 

Joseph Pierce and Sarah Phelps, " " 

William Ciunings and Mehitable Eastman, hrith ot' Hollis. 
William Nevins and Rebekah Chamberlain, " " 

James Taylor of Hollis and Lois Hutterfield ot Dunstable. 
John Stearns of Hollis and Lucy Shedd of Dunstable. 
Samuel Cumings, Jun., and Lydia Webster, both of Hollis. 
15, Benjamin Shattuck and Marj' Proctor, " " 

j6, Emerson Smith and Mary Page of Hollis. 

17, Daniel Emerson, Jun., of Hollis and Ama Fletcher of Dunstable. 
Benjamin Astin and Betty Farley, both of Hollis. 
Abel Shipley and Lucy Farley, " " 

Francis Blood and Abigail Conroy, both of Hollis. 
James Foster of Temple and Hannah Jewett of Hollis. 
Solomon Blood and Priscilla French, both of Hollis. 
Josiah Conant of Hollis and Elizabeth Elliot of Mason. 
Nahum Powers and Mary Wheat, both of Hollis. 
Ebenezer Nutting and Elizabeth Abbot, botli of Hollis. 
Thomas Kemp and Mehitable Lovejoy, •• " 

Thaddeus Wheeler and Elizabeth Farmer, " "' 

Jonathan Bates of Ashby and Mehitable Willouglibv of Hollis, 
Zachariah Lawrence, Jun., and Rebekah Powers, both of Hollis. 
Jonas Bancroft of Worcester and Sarah Blood of Hollis. 
Isaac Pierce of Pepperell and Sarah Blood of Hollis. 
Jeremiah Wheelerof Concord and Kezia Blanchard of Hollis. 
Ebenezer Ball and Elizabeth Davis, both of Hollis. 
6, John Pliilbrick and Sarah Jewett, " '• ' 

Isaac Stevens and Elizabeth Johnson, both of Hollis. 
James Fiske and Sarah Leeman, '• •' 

Joseph French and Mary Youngman, ■' " 

Cyrus Proctor and .Sibbel Farnsworth, '■ " 

Solomon Pierce and Lucy Parker, " " 

Timothy French and Anna Willoughbv " " 

Aug. I, James Colburn and Kezia Tavlor. " "■ 

" 29, .Solomon Wheat and Sarah Ball, " " 

Sept. 5, Amos Lamson and Mary .Stevens, " " 

Nov. 14, Edward Taylor and Mary Worcester, " " 

" 21, Jerahmael Bowers and Martha Tennev, " " 

" 2S, Zachariah Shattuck and Elizabeth Farley, " " 

Jesse Cluircliill of Plymouth, Mass., and Abigail Worcester. 
1772, Jan. 14, Thomas Powell and Elizabeth Stevens, both of Hollis. 
.Simeon Lovejo)- and Grace Lovejov, " " 

Joseph Nevins and Sarah Powers, " •' 

Ephraim Lund and Alice Wheeler, •' *■ 

Apr. 16, Nathan Blood antl Elizabeth Noves, " " 

Benjamin Farmer of Hollis and Sarah Emerson ol' Nottingham West. 
Noah Worcester and Hepzibali Sherwin, lioth of Hollis. 
Jonathan Ames and Frances Powers, " '• 

Thomas Cumings and Hannah Pool, •' " 

Zachariah Kemp and Sarah Townsend. " " 

Timothy Wyman and Elizabeth Shattuck, " " 

John Phelps, Jun., of Hollis and Mary Lakin of Groton. 
Jacot) Lovejoy and Elizabeth Baxter, both of Hollis. 
Lebbeus Wheeler and Elizabeth Carter " '■ 

Apr. 22, John Kendall of Amherst and Molly Boynton of Hollis, 

" 2S, Joseph Brown and Lois Blood, both of Hollis. 
June 20, EJienezer Stearns and Rachel Ames, " " 
(23) 



" 


24, 


" 


24, 


Dec 


12, 


" 


15. 


Jan. 


5' 


" 


9. 


Feb. 


7i 


June 


22, 


Oct. 


s. 


" 


*7» 


" 


19. 


Nov. 


22, 


" 


23. 


JjJn^ 


II) 


Feb. 


IS. 


Oct. 


iS, 


Dec. 


6, 


Jan. 


2, 


" 


22, 


Feb. 


I, 


Mar. 


10, 


" 


19, 


May 


3. 



Dec. 


19. 


Jan. 


14. 


" 


22, 


Feb. 


20, 


May 


l2, 


A pr. 


16, 


Sept 


6, 


" 


30, 


Nov. 


11, 


Dec. 


'7> 
3. 


" 


17, 


" 


24, 


Feb. 


16, 


Mar. 


I, 



34^ MARRIAGES IX CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 

'773' J"n^ 29- Joiuithan Emerson of Nottingham West and Sibbel Farmer ot Hollis. 
" Sept. 8, Timothy Wlicoler of Plymoutli and Mary Nevins of Hollis. 
" Oct. 7, Josluia Stile.sof Lyndeborough and Mehitahel Leenian of Hollis. 
" Nov. 25. Tliomas Wakclield of Amherst and Elizabeth Hardy of Hollis. 
Dec. 2j, Levi Fletcher and Esther Rennet, both of Hollis. 
'■ 30, Christopher Farley and Ruth Jewelt " " 

177.1. Jan. 6, Amos Eastman and Kiitli F'la.yt;'. " " 

13, Jonas Leslev and Elizahetli Dow, " " 

" •' 20, Jonas Blood and Molly Brown, " " 

■" Fell. 10, John Goss and Catharine Conant. •' " 

■""^ " " 17, Manasseh .Sniitli and Hannah Emcr.^i.n, " 

" " 34, Jolm Kneeland of Boston and Ann llobart of Hollis. 

" Feb. 24, Samuel Gcrrish of Boscawen and Lucy Noyes of Hollis. 
" S, Obadiah Eastman of Bath and Eliz;;beth Searle of Hollis. 

" June 2S, John Willoughby of Hrsllis, and Elizabetli Sprake of Billeric.T. 
" Aug. 4, Samson Powers and Elizabeth Nuttinsr, botli of Hollis. 
" Sept. 15, Stephen Hazleton and Esther II ildreth " 

" " 19, Samuel Cunningham and Sus;;nnali Carter, " " 

" Nov. 22, Samuel Conroy and Alice Blood, " '' 

*' " 24, Neliemiah Hardy and Molly Taylor, " " 

Benjamin Wright and Esther Taylor, " " 

John Smitli of Nottingham W. and Sarali Merrill of Hollis. 
Emerson Smith of Hollis and Abigail Avre. 
Jonathan Lovejoy and Rebekah Ball, both of Hollis. 
Benjamin Nevins and Annis Moore, both of Hollis. 
Joshua Blanchard, Jun., and Lucy French, both of Hollis. 
Timothy Blood and Sarah Dix, both of Hollis. 

Capt. Jonas Pollard of Westford and Mrs. Elizabeth Abbot oi H ollis 
Caleb Blood and Rebecca Hopkins, lioth of Hollis. 
David Hardy of Wilmington and Hannah Worcester of Hollis. 
Minot Farmer and Abigail Barron, both of Hollis. 
Timothy French and Hannah Wright, both of Hollis. 
Parmenter Honey and Sarah Hale, inith of Hollis. 
Nathaniel Ball and Martha Boynton, both of Hollis. 
Nathaniel Rideout and Susannah Spaulding, both of Hollis. 
Samuel Andirose and Mary Goodhue, both of Hollis. 
Jae-ob Putnam of Wilton and M'id. Patience Martin of Hollis. 
" " 1-, Ensign Daniel Merrill of Hollis and Jerusha A\'ilHams of Pejjperell. 

" " 25, William French, Jun., of Hollis and Lucy Fletcher of Chelmsford. 

Aug. iS, Job Bayley and Mehitable French, both of Hollis. 
" .Sept. 10, Josiah Hobart of Groton and Lucy Kendall of Hollis. 
" Nov. 3, Samuel Abbot and Susannah Hobart, both of Hollis. 
" Dec. 25, Thomas Jaquith and Rhoda Spaulding-, both of Hollis. 
,1777, Feb. 30, Ebenezer Melvin of Cockermouth and Joanna Bayley of Hollis. 
May. S, James Colburn and Elizabeth Blood, both of Hollis. 
" Nov. 12, Daniel Mosher and Lydia Gilson, " " 

«' " iS, Nehemiah Pierce and Mary Hobart, " " 

" Dec. 4, John Ball of Temple and Hannah Farley of Hollis. 
" '• iS, Moses Thurston and Catharine Conant, both of Hollis. 

" " iS, Jonathan Hobart and Alice Wright, " " 

" " iS, Joseph Farley and Bridget Powers. " " 

177S, Mar. 31, Joseph Stearns and Abigail Wheat, " " 

" April 9, Elijah Clark and Martha Runnells, " " 

" May 26, Joshua Boynton and Mary Parker, " " 

" June 9, William Ayers of Haverhill and Mary Runnells of Hollis. 
" Aug. 16. John Warren of New Ipswich and .Sarah Eastman of Hollis. 
" " 23. William Wood and Susannah Wright, both of Hollis. 

" Nov. 5, Samuel Worcester and Lois Boynton, " '" 



Dec. 


15, 


Jan. 


3. 


'* 


^. 


Feb. 


9> 


" 


16, 


Mar. 


16, 


.\pr. 


20, 


May 


iS, 


Sept. 


'5. 




iS, 


Nov 


■ 7- 


'• 


30, 


Ian. 


, iS, 


I'Vb. 


20, 


July 


2. 



Jan. 


2S, 


" 


2S, 


Mar. 


17. 


Apr 


• 7i 


" 


13. 



MARRIAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 347 

1778, Nov. s, Benjamin Boynton and Deborah Parker, both of Ilollis, 

" Nov. 16, Stephen Jewett, Jnn., and Elizabeth J'ool, " " * 

James Hopkin.s of Amherst and Mary Taylor of ilollis. 

1779. Jan. 2S, Stephen Farley and Mary Shattuck, both of Hollis. 
Natlian Colburn and Abigail Shattuck, " " 
Jonathan Dix of Raby and Miriam Kneeland of Harvard. 
Samuel Lecman and Mary Wheeler, both of Hollis. 
Thomas Pratt and Anna Lawrence, " " 

" June 10, Dr. Ebenczer Rockwood and Mary Emerson, both of Hollis. 

" Nov. 25, Josiah Fisk and Mary Caldwell, " " 

" Dec. 9, John Shattuck of New Ipswich and Mary Farley of Hollis. 

17S0, Mar. 9, Stephen Wright of Westford and Sarah Carter of Hollis. 

" " 29, Nehemiah Hardy of Tewksbury and Wid. Abigail Hardy of Hollis. 

" April David Truell of Amherst and Wid. Sarah Fisk of Hollis. 

" May 31, Samuel Hill and Jemima Wheeler, both of Hollis. 

" June 15, Simeon Blood and Rhoda Youngman, " " 

" " 15, Uriah Wright and Eunice Jewett, " " 

" June iS, Benjamin Farley, 2d, of Hollis and Lucy Fletcher of Dunstable. 

" July 13, Ebenezer Wheeler and Azubah Taylor, both of Hollis. 

" Aug. 24, Isaac Boynton and Mary Brooks, " " 

" " 24, Jonathan Parker and Naomi Parker, " " 

" Oct. 9, Thomas Merrill of Conway and Wid. Elizabeth Cuniings of Hollis. 

" " 17, William W. Pool and Sarah Farley, both of Hollis. 

" Nov. 21, Abraham Boynton of Pepperell and Mary Hartshorn of Hollis. 

" Dec. 7, Dr. Jonathan Pool and Elizabeth Hale, both of Hollis. 

" " 7, Stephen Runnells and Chloe Thurston, " " 

" " 7, Benjamin Cumings and Bridget Pool, " " 

17S1, Jan. Abijah Hildreth ofTownsend and Hannah Smith of Hollis. 

" Feb. 9, William Ball and Elizabeth Colburri, both of Hollis. 

" Feb. 9, Enoch Noyes, Jun., of Cockermouth and Zillah Fox. ~ 

" Mar. 6, Bray Wilkins of Deering and Wid. Lucy Blanchard of Hollis. 

" Mar. 13, Lemuel Wright and Widow Mary Johnson, both of Hollis. 

" " 15, Aquilla Kimball of Bradford and Anna Tenney of Hollis. 

" " 22, David Ames and Anna Wright, both of Hollis. 

" Apr. 10, William Elliot of Pepperell and Sarah Honey of Hollis. 

" " 12, Caleb Farley, Jun., and Abigail Phelps, both of Hollis. 

" " 26, Jonas Woods and Lydia Hobart, " " 

" Nov. 19, Jacob Taylor and Betty Boynton, " " 

" " 19, Shubael Parker and Betty Brooks, " " 

" " 20, Abel Conant and Margaret Jewett, " " 

" Dec. 27, Lt. Jeremiah Pritchard of New Ipswich and Elizabeth Smith of Hollis. 
1782, (an. 9, Nathaniel Blood and Martha Spear, both of Hollis. 

" " 17, Jonathan Hobart and Elizabeth Lakin, " " 

" Feb. 4, .Stephen Childs of Upton and Priscilla Wheat of Hollis. 

" " 6, Abel Lovejoy and Sarah Fox, both of Hollis. 

" " 13, John Connick of Hollis, and Abigail Hartshorn of Dunstable. 

" Feb. Daniel Kendrick and Mary Pool, both of Hollis. 

" Apr. 24, William Brooks, Jun., and Deborah Parker, both of Hollis. 

" " 24, John Ball and Mary Chamberlain, " " 

" May 7, Oliver Lawrence, Jun., and Lydia Dow, " " 

" " 16, Solomon Hobart and Abigail Brooks, " " 

" " 23, Simon Pierce, Jun., and Sarah Bo}-nton, '■ " 

" " 27, John Fox and Sarah Worcester, " " 

" " aS, Burpee Ames and Grace Whiting, " " 

" June Jesse Worcester and Sarah Parker, " " 

" " 13, Eliphalet Brown and .Sarah Wright, " " 

" " 13, Timothy Jones of Amherst and Elizabeth Kenrfck of Hollis. 

" Oct. 10, William .Spear, Jun., of New Ipswich and Sarah Emerson of Hollis. 



SyS-'. 


Nov 


>7S3. 


Apr 


'* 


May 


.< 


Oct. 




Dec. 



Sc'])t 


. ID, 


Dec. 


2, 


" 


■iS, 


" 


20, 



348 • .MARRIAGKS IN CIIKOXOLOGICAL ORDER. 

Stephen Bent ofDiil-.Iin and Elizalieth Darliy of Hollis. 

Josiah Woodlniry of Ilollis and Wid. Aliigail Whipple of Mason. 

Lt. Sanniel Farley of Ilollis and Elizabeth Powers of Mason. 

Thomas Carter and Polly Foot, both of Hollis. 

loseph Wheat and Wid. Bridget Farley, '• " 

Joel Proctor and Caty Blood, " '■ 

•' •■ 2^. Phineas F'letcher of Dunstable and Anna Burge of Hollis. 

17S4, ]an. 1, Thomas Hardy of Dublin and Eucy Collnu-n of Hollis. 
•• 15, Jacob ^looar and Hannah Shattuck, bf>tii of Hollis. 
'• Feb. I-', Fllisha Wright and Anna Sanders, •• " 

■' Mar. -I, Daniel Bayley and Elizabeth French, " " 

" iS. John Brooks and Elizabeth Woods, " " 

" .\pr. 4. Burpee Ames and Vrid. Hannah Cumings, both of Hollis. 
• ' " S, Rev. Isaac Bailey of Sterling and Elizabeth Emerson of Hollis. 

" '• 15, Benjamin Stearns and Elizabeth Holt, both of Hollis. 

" •' 27, Stephen Parker and Rachel Boynton, " " 

" .Mav 2, Henry Butterlield of Dunstable and Mary How of Hollis. 
•' •' 13, Ralph Emerson and Alice Ames, both of Hollis. 

" " 20, Nathaniel P.atten and Mehitable Blood, '• " 

" lune 12, Ensign John Senter and Wid. Esther F'arnsworth, l.ioth of Hollis 
•' " 17, Stephen Dow and Abigail Jewett, both of Hollis. 

Elijah Xoyes of Cockermouth and Mary Lewis of Hollis. 

Moses Proctor and Ruth Austin, both of Hollis. 

David Sanderson and Larana Shattuck, both of Hollis. 

George Abbot of Hollis and Naomi Tuttle of Littleton. 

F'rancis Worcester of Plymouth and Hannah Parker of Hollis. 

James Ctdburn and Susannah Hardy, both of Hollis. 



FROM THE JIOLLIS RECORDS OF ^LVRRLVGES. 

1755. -May 12, Asa Baldwin and Rosalma Wheeler, both of Hollis. 

" •• •' ph.ineas Ames of Hancock and Mehitable Jewett of Hollis. 

•> •• 17, Aaron Bailey and Elizabeth Wallingford, both of Hollis. 

•' 24, lonas Willoughby and Prudence Saunders, " " 

June 12, Levi Parker of Westford and Abigail Pool of. Hollis. 

" 30. Capt. Samuel Douglas of Raby and Wid. Tabitha Fletcher of Hollis. 

" July 2S, Joseph Frost of Tewksbury and Abigail Leeman, of Hollis. 

" Sept. 21, David Wright and Polly Lowell, both of Hollis. 

•' Oct. 25, Life Baldwin and Polly Holt, " " 

" Nov. 24, Reuben Blood of Westminster and Lucy Ball of Hollis. 

" Dec. 26, James Ridcout, Jun., and Sarah Spalding, both of Hollis. 

1756, Jan. 16, Peter Cumings of Hancock and Sarah Pierce of Hollis. 
" Feb. :6, Silas Hardy and Mary Flagg, both of Hollis. 

" '■ " John Edwards and Elizabeth Holden, both of Hollis. 

" Mar. S, Oliver Bacon of Jaft'rey and Rebecca Jewett of Hollis. 

" " 21, John Goddard, Jun., and Lucy Stiles, both of Hollis. 

" June 16, Silas Swallow of Dunstable and Lucy Emerson of Hollis. 

" " " Stephen Youngman and Abigail Brown, both of Hollis. 

" Oct. 26, John Bonner and Sarah Brooks, " " 

" Dec. 7, William Ball and Rebecca Kinney, " " 

1787, Jan. 31, Oliver Willoughby and Sarah Bailey, " "' 

" Feb. 15, Benjamin Farley, 3d, of Hollis and Mary Blodgett of Dunstable. 

" " 23, James Grossman and Rebecca Proctor of Hollis. 

1787, Apr. 26, John Goodhue and Rebecca Perham, both of Hollis. 

" ]une 3, David Hale and Elizabeth Holden, " " 

" Sept. 20, Capt. William Brooks and Hepzibah Powers, both of Hollis. 

" Nov. 13, Joel Boynton of Hopkinton and Betty Wallace of Hollis. 



Jan. 
Feb. 


it 

7> 


Apr. 
Nov. 


'7> 
17, 
9. 


<^ 


'3i 


Dec. 


.i, 


" 


16, 


Jan. 


■29. 
I, 


" 


16, 


" 


20, 


Oct. 


'9: 


Dec. 
Feb. 


9. 


Mar. 


' 7> 



MARKIAGKS IX CIIKOXOI.OOICAL OKDKll. 349 

;7SS, Jan. j, Jesse Hardy and Rebecca Bailey, botli ot rioUis. 

Reuben llobart of Cockermouth and Isabel Colburn of IloUis. 

Caleb Stile-s, Jan., and Betty Pierce, both of Ilollis. 

Josiah Wheat and Sarah Keyes, " " 

Benjamin Woods Parker and Olive Pratt, '• " 

Isaac Hardy and Submit Wheat, - " " 

Jonas Flag-g- of (jilnianton and Lucy |e\vett of Ilollis. 

Thomas Kemp of Ilollis and Wid. Hannah Shattuck of Raby. 

Dea. Josiah Conant and Zerviah Foi, both of Hollis. 

-Vsiihel Twiss and Wid. Isabel Pierce, " " 

17S9, Jan. I, David Holden, Jun., and Bridget Atwell, '• " 

Solomon Manning of Billerica and Olive P'rench of Ilollis. 

James Jewett and Lucy Farley, both of Ilollis. 
William Reed, Jun., and Betsey Burge, both of Ilollis. 

Daniel Meriill and Phebe Dow, " " 

Michael Carter and Rebecca Shattuck, '' " 

1790, Feb. 9, Jonathan Hale and Catharine Mosher, " " 

Jacob Wheeler of Deering and Betsey Dix of Hollis. 
" May 6, Daniel Lawrence and Polly Johnson, both of Hollis. 
" July 3S, Shubacl llobart of Hollis and Wid. Prudence Parker of Groton. 
" Xov. 9, Moses Hardy and Abigail Wheat, both of Hollis. 
" " 24, Isaac Baldwin of Amherst and Bethiah Pool of Ilollis. 

*' " 35, Francis Blood and Wid. Abigail Farmer, both of Hollis. 

" " 30, Henry Wright of Ashby and Hannah Boynton of Hollis. 

'79') Jan. 6, Jacob Spaulding of Hillsborough and Mary Barker of Hollis. 
" Feb. 10, Jerathmael Bovvers and Hannah Danforth, both of Hollis. 
" " 15, Benjamin Jewett of Gilnianton and Rebecca Boynton of Hollis. 

Oliver Prescott, Jun., of Groton aud Nancy "Whiting of Hollis. 

Nathaniel Shattuck, Jun., and Hannah Ke3-es, both of Hollis. 

Samuel Shattuck and Lois Wheat, " " 

Thomas Hay, Jun., of Merrimack and Rebecca Pool of Hollis. 

Solomon Wheelerand Hannah Farley, both of Hollis. 

Jotham Rohbins of Dunstable and Hannah Fisk of Hollis. 

Samuel Runnells and'Abigail Smith, both of Hollis. 
" Oct. 18, Jonathan Saunderson and Lucy Pool, " " 

" " 24, Zebulon Wheeler and Wid. Mary Kendrick, both of Hollis. 

1792, Jan. 31, Oliver Blodgett of Dunstable and Anna Shipley of Hollis. 
" Mar. 15, Ebenezer Jewett and Polly Rideout, both of Hollis. 

" July 12, Abraham Leeman of Hollis and Wid. Olive Jaquith of Dunstable. 

" Oct. 23, Joseph Whipple and Esther Pierce, both of Hollis. 

" Nov. 15, Abijah Shed and Joanna Farley, " " 

" Dec. 13, Jonas .Smith and Sally Pool, " " 

1793, Jan. 24, Samuel Barron and Sally Lund, " " 
" " 38, Ephraim Burge and Patty Baldwin, " " 

" " 38, Leonard Whiting, Jun., and Betsey Conant, both of Hollis. 

" Nov. 21, James Bell and Elizabeth Shattuck, " " 

" " 2$, John Powers and Hannah Brooks, " " 

" Dec. 24, Joel Barker and Sally Foster, " " 

1794, Feb. II, Solomon Wheat, Jun., and Hannah Cumings, " " 
" " 27, William Merrill of Hollis and Dolly Smith of Raby. 

" Mar. 7, Moses Ames and Rebecca Hale, both of Hollis. 

" Apr. 9, Solomon Wheelock of Leominster and Betsey Ball of Hollis. 

" May 7, Rev. Eli Smith and Ama Emerson, both of Hollis. 

" " 20, Jacob Mooar and Dorcas Hood, " " 

" June 9, Solomon Blood, Jim., and Hannah Kinney, " " 

" July 3> Isaac Hardy and Mehitable Boynton, " " 

" " 13, Benjamin Pool and Sally Fletcher, " " 

" " 20, Dr. William Hale and Esther Pool, " " 



" 


22, 


Apr. 


28, 


May 


5> 


Aug 


■ << 


" 


•^5' 


Sept. 


20, 


•' 


20, 



350 MARRIAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 

1794, Aug. 20, Daniel Dow and Sally Lovcjoy, both of Hollis. 

" " 27, Samuel I.ovejoy and Elizabeth Willoughby, both of Hollis. 

" Nov. 13, Nathaniel Shattuck of Hancock and Susannah Jewett of Hollis. 

" Dec. 16, Thomas Farley of Hollis and Polly Jewell of Dunstable. 

1795, ]an. I, David Smith and Hepzihah Worcester, both of Hollis. 

" Feb. 12, Aaron Hardy of Lempster and Sally Shattuck of Hollis. 

Apr. 16, Abel Shattuck and Sally Blood, both of Hollis. 

" " 24, John Butterfield of Dunstable and Sally Blood of Hollis. 

" May 4, Stephen Lovejoy and Betsey Hood, both of Hollis. 

" " 30, James Bradbury and Catharine Conant, " " 

" Nov. 29, John Jewett and Jane Ames, " " 

1796, Jan. 5, Aaron Smith and Ruth Farley, " " 
" " 14, Jonathan Eads and Anna Holt, " " 
" Feb. 10, David Burge and Betsey Mcintosh, " " 

^-^ " Mar. 4, Silas French and Sally Reed, " " 

" " 10, William Willoughby of Hollis and Rebecca Adams of Dunstable. 

" 17, David Willoughby and Polly Wood, both of Hollis. 
" Apr. 19, Daniel Blood, Jan., and Esther Rideoul, " " 

William Read of Hollis and Wid. Elizabeth Shed of Chelmsford. 
Benjamin Barron and Sally Wood, both of Hollis. 
Timothy French of Dunstable and Bridget Farley of Hollis. 
Nathaniel Jewett and Sally Blood, both of Hollis. 
Ebenezer Farley, Jun., and Abigail Farmer, both of Hollis. 
David Powers of Dunstable and Polly Blanchard of Hollis. 
William Kemp and Sally Shattuck, both of Hollis. 
Edmund Williams of Pepperell and Abigail Eee of Hollis. 
Josiah Conant and Lucy Jewett, both of Hollis. 
Jacob Mosher and Mary Pierce, " " 

Josiah Hayden and Polly Patch, " " 

John Sawtell of Milford, and Martha Wallingford of Hollis. 
Jesse Danforth oi Amherst, and Sally Wheat of Hollis. 
Kendall Kittridge and Sally Whiting of Hollis. 
Abel Spauldingand Susannah Marshall, both of Hollis. 
Rev. Samuel Worcester of Fitchbiu'g and Zerviah Fox of Hollis. 
John Shed and Wid. Lucy Jewett, both of Hollis. 
10, Enos Hardy and Mary Lund, " " 

10, Ebenezer Baldwin and Lucy Wheat, " " 

26, Levi Nutting of Pepperell, and Persis Eastman of Hollis. 
Amos Eastman and Wid. Deborah Woods, both of Hollis. 
Luther Wright of Westford and Priscilla Reed of Hollis. 
Daniel Bobbins of Dunstable and Betsy Hazelton of Hollis.—"—' 
James Atwell and Sarah Lawrence, both of Hollis. 
Jonas Blood and Priscilla Blood, " " 

" June 15, David Woods and Patty Brooks, " " 

" Nov. 2S, Uriah Reed and Betsey Shed, " " 

1799, Jan. I, Eleazer Pierce and Sally Austin, " " 

" " 2, David French and Betsey Wheeler, " " 

" " 31, Pliineas H. Holden of Littleton and Betsey Jewett of Hollis. 

Nehemiah Barker and Elizabeth Wallingford, both of Hollis. 
Thomas Farley and Susannah Burge, " " 

.SamueL Smith and Margaret Smith, " " 

Solomon Pierce and Rebecca Austin, " " 

Nathan Holt and Sibbel Phelps, " " 

" 23, Dea. Thomas Walker of Sudbury and Mary Hayden of Hollis. 
lune 4, Eleazer Parker and .Susannah Flagg, both ol Hollis. 

" 11. Robert Colburn and Kezia Wright, " " 

Oct. 1, Samuel Conroy and Betsey Dix, *' " 

" II, Abel Spalding and Rebecca Ober, " " 



Jime 


2, 




9> 


Aug. 


17. 


Sept, 


4- 


" 


i5> 


Nov. 


17, 


Dec. 


2Z, 


" 


29, 


Jan. 


1, 


" 


iS, 


Apr. 


'9. 


" 


19. 


" 


24, 


Sept. 


19, 


Oct. 


20, 


Nov. 


S' 



Dec. 


31. 


Feb. 


9i 


" 


'5' 


Mar, 


• 4. 


" 


29. 



Mar. 


17, 


Apr. 


16, 


May 


13. 


" 


16, 



MARRIAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 35 1 

1799, Oct. 20, William Teaney and Judith Reed, both of Hollis. 
" Nov. 2S, Mose&S. Boj'nton of Hancock and Hannali Woodbury of HoUis. 
" " 2S, Ilezekiah Kendall of IloUis and Lucy Kidder of Amherst. 

iSoo, Jan. 2^, Peter Colburn and Rachel Patch, both of Hollis. 

" Feb. 24, Zachariah Alexander of Dunstable and Wid. Mary Messer of Hollis. 
" M;ir. 13, Leonard Whiting, Jun., and Wid. Rebecca Gilson, both of Holli.s. 
" " 13, Andrew Bunton of Pembroke and Lavinia Holden of Hollis. 

^ " " 19, Benjamin Austin and .Sally Jewett, both of Hollis. 

'• " 26, Nathaniel Proctor and Olive Goddard, " " 

" Apr. 2S, Minot Wheeler and Sally Farley, " " 

" May 20, Dr. Benoni Cutter and Phebe Tenncy,- " " 

" July 23, Isaac Jewett and Polly Proctor,' " " 

" Oct. 2, Jacob Cobbett and Phebe Kinney, " " 

" Nov. 13, Thaddeus Wheeler and Sibbel Spauldinsr, " " 

" " 13, Reuben Killicutt of Hillsborough and Sally Shipley of Hollis. 

iSoi, Jan. 2, Samuel Parker of Greenfield and Hannah Rideoul of Hollis. 
" " 12, Josiah Blood and Sally Spaulding, both of Hollis. 

" F"eb. 3, Phillips Wood and Dorothy Davis, " " 

■" May 31, James Jewell of Dunstable and Sail}' Hobart .of Hollis. 
" J"ly S> Ebenezer Perkins and Henrietta Goddard, both of Hollis. 
" Aug. 13, James Mosher and Hannah Pierce, " " 

" Nov. 26, David Rideout and Kezia Wood, " " 

" " 27, George Whitefield of Plymouth and Lydia Ranger of Hollis. 

" Dec. 7, Ebenezer Perkins and Betsey Austin, bothof Hollis. 
" " 24, Aaron Kinney and Sally Phelps, " " 

1S02, Jan. 20, Abner B. Little of Salem, N. H., and Nancy Tenney of Hollis. 
Ambrose Gould of Greenfield .and .Susan Farley of Hollis. 
Joseph Evans of Marlow and Patty Boynton of Hollis. 
John Ober of Hollis and Sally Peacock of Amherst. 
Carshina Wood of Littleton and Betsey L. Lawrence of HoUis. 
Zachariah Ober and Abigail Hardy, both of Hollis. 
Nicholas How and Anna French, both of Hollis. 

Ebenezer Parkhurst of Dunstable, Mass., and Hannah Jewett of Hollis 
Nathan .Shattuck and Susanna Wood, both of Hollis. 
Jacob Pierce of Huntington, ,Vt., and Sarah Jewett of Hollis. 
William Marshall of Hudson and Polly Smith of Hollis. 
Emerson Parker and Rebecca Blood, both of Hollis. 
Jonathan Parker of Lexington and Anna Hobart of Hollis. 
Jesse Farley and Mary Plielps, both of Hollis. 
William Farley and Elizabeth Bobbins, both of Hollis. 
Daniel Merrill, 3d, and Abigail Colburn, " " 

" Sept. 22, Phineas Lovejoy and Abigail Ober, " " 

" •' 22, Aaron Brooks and Polly Austin, " " 

" Apr. S, Charles Eastman and Rebecca Spaulding, " " 

" May 16, Benjamin Fletcher and Abigail Kittridge, " " 

" Aug. 30, Gould Bobbins of Dunstable and Sarah Johnson of Hollis. 
" Oct. 10, Abijah Gould, Jun., and Mary .Shattuck, both of Hollis. 
■•' " II, David Hardy and Anna Colburn, " " 

" " 29, David Roby of Dunstable and Ann Johnson of Hollis. 

" Nov. ij, Timothy Colburn of Milford and Mary Lovejoy of Hollis. 
1S05. Jan. 9, Thomas Richardson of Packersfield and Polly Holt of HoUis. 
" " 26, Abijah Shed of Pepperell and Catharine Goss of Hollis. 

" Sept. Nathaniel Rideout and S.ar.ih Abbott, both of Hollis. 

" " 16, Nicholas Youngman and Wid. Lydia Hobart, both of Hollis. 

Sept. 16, Eleazer Hale of Dunstable and Sally Jewell of Hollis. 
" Oct. 30, Theodore Wheeler of Hollis and Susannah Hamlet of Dunstable. 
" Nov. aS, Benjamin W. Wright and Sarah Hardy, both of Hollis. 
" Dec. 26, Eli Hunt of Peterborough and Lydia Rideout of Hollis. 



" 


Feb. 


17- 


I 


Apr. 


4- 
6, 
10, 


-" 


June 


10. 


:: 


Sept. 


5' 

7- 


" 


Nov. 


25. 


1S03, 


Jan. 


19. 


'; 


Feb. 


IS. 


" 


Aug. 


■IS, 


" 


Oct. 


17, 


1S04, 


Jan. 


18, 
26, 



352 MARRIAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.. 

iSo6, Jan. i, William I''. Rlielps and Sukey Farley, botli of Ilnllis. 
" '• 22, Stephen Lund and Rachel Shed, " " 

" " 30, Daniel French of Ilardwick, Vt., and Lucy Gnss of llollis. 

" Feb. 12, Arteinas Thayer of Milford, Mass., and Elizabeth Jewett of Hollis. 
" Sept. 24, Isaac Mooar and Mary Blood, both of Hollis. 
" Oct. 30, Paul Davis of Mason and Lucy Pike of llollis. 
" Nov. 2, Lt. Caleb Farley and Wid. Lucy Shipley, both of Hollis. 
" Dec. iS, Luther Hubbard of Hollis and Hannah Russell of Carlisle, Mass. 
" " iS, Isaac Senter of Brookhne and Sally Ball of Hollis. 

)So7, Apr. 2, Nathan Thayer and Hannah Jewett, both of Hollis. 
" May 4, Foster Emerson and Ruth Proctor, " " 

" Sept. 17, Isaac Shattuck of Washington and Hannal] Mooar of Hollis. 
" " 17, Abijah Gould of Hollis and Mary T. Sargent of Milford. 

" Oct. 20, Samuel Jones, jun., of Sudbury and Lucy Phelps of Hollis. 
i " " 20, Ebenezer Youngman and Thankful Phelps, lioth of Hollis. 

" Nov. I, John Grover of Charlestown, Mass., and Rebecca Blood of Hollis. 
Joel IIow of Milford and Dorcas Colburn of Hollis. 
iSoS, Jan. 14, Nathan Colburn, Jun., and Lydia Jewett. both of Hollis. 
Henry Adams and Sarah Bradley, '• " 

John W. Kendall and Hannah Colburn, " " 

Daniel Mooar of Hollis and Mai"v Nevins of Amherst. 
Samuel Hideout and Mary Lovejoy, both of Hollis. 
Nehemiah Ranger and Esther Symonds, " " 

Isaac Farley and Charlotte Woods, '' " 

William Lovejov and Susannah Rideout, " " 

]S09, Jan. 4, Timothy Colburn of Milford and Rebecca Ball of Hollis. 
Joshua Wright and Rebecca Willoughhy, both of Hollis. 
.Solomon Hobart of Hebron and Hannah Farley of Hollis. 
Feb. 5, Daniel French of Hardwick, Vt.. and Sarah Worcester of Hollis. 
" II, Lester Holt of Lyme and Lydia French of Hollis. 
" 21, James Rideout, 3d, and Edah Kinney, both of Hollis. 
" 2S, lonas Blood of Buckstov.-n, Me., and Eliza Rideout of Hollis. 
Apr. 26, Samuel Runnells of Bradf<ird and Elizabeth Lovejoy of Hollis. 
June 7. Jonathan T. Wheeler and p:sll)er Spaulding, both of Hollis. 

" 23, Isaac I'' rcnch, Jun., and Abigail Farley, '• 

July 10, Abraham Boynton of Pepi)erell and Mary Adams of Hollis. 
Sept. 28, Jonas French, Jun., of Dunstable and ^Martha Jewett of Hollis. 
Nov. 26. leremiah Sanderson of Salem and Lucy French of Hollis. 
Dec. 7, Lemuel ^\'right, Jun., and Mary Farlev, both of Hollis. 
" 17, Ralph Nutting of A^^estford and Hannah Wright of Hollis, 
" ly, Josiah Kidder of Amherst and Hannah Nevins of Hollis. 

Rev. Stephen Chapin of Mt. Vernon and Sally Mosher of Hollis. 
Samuel French and Naomi Abbot, both of Hollis. 
Benjamin Austin and Wid. Sarah Rideout, both of Hollis. 
Samuel Chapin of Pepperell and Elizabeth Farley of Hollis. 
Jonathan W. French of Hardwick, Vt., and Catharine Conant of Holli 
Mar. 14, John French and Ama Nevins, both of Hollis. 
May S, Alfred Hutchinson of Milford and Lydia Foster of Hollis. 

" 14, William Colburn and Rebecca Hardy, both of Hollis. 
Aug. 12, Charles W. Knowlton of New York and Sally Wood of Hollis. 
Sept. 12, Stephen Lund of Merrimack and Elizabeth Ober of Hollis. 
Nov. 22, James Davis and Bridget Wheeler, both of Mollis. 
Dec. iS, Benjamin Messer and Abigail Holt, " " 

Jan. 19, Andrew Willoughby and Hannah Davis " •' 

Jan. 23, Richard Clough of Merrimack and Abigail Proctor of Hollis. 
Feb. 4, Zachariah Kemp of Groton, N. H., and Elizabeth Powers of Holli--. 
" ]6, Amos Blood and Susannah Phelps, both of Hollis. 
June 20, Oliver Willoughby, Jun., and Martha Hardy, both ot llollis. 



" 


26, 


Jan. 


14^ 


" 


20, 


Feb. 


25. 


Mar. 


16, 


" 


2S, 


Aug. 


.27, 


Dec. 


".V 


" 


2S. 


Jan 


• 4- 


" 


4. 


" 


iS, 



" 


21, 


Jan. 
Feb 


iS, 




20. 


'• 


20, 



MAKKIAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 



35S 



iSii, Oct. 24, Jesse Hardy and Wid. Mary Smith, botli cit" IIdIHs. 

" Nov.ii, Ralph Lovejoy and Abigail Phelps, 
181a, May 10, Jabez Chapin of Dorchester, Mass., and Mary Wood ot Hollis. 
June 28, Caleb Brown, Jun., of Milford and .Sarah ^yillollg;hlly of Hollis. 
" Aug-. 18, Simeon Stearns and Lydia Bailey, both of Hollis. 
" Sept. 24, William E. Kockwood of Wilton and Abigail Conant of Hollis.. 
" Oct. 6. Timothy Colburn of Milford and Betsey Ball of Hollis. 

Nov. 1, David Mooar, Jun., of Hollis and Patty Merrill of Dunstable, 
" " 12, Ralph E. Tenney and Olive Brown, both of Hollis. 

" Dec. 24. Isaac Kimball of Mason iuid Lucinda Tenney of Hollis. 
1S13, Jan. 20, Samuel Hamlet and Rebecca Conroy, both of Hollis. 

Mar. 7, Rev. Walter Chapin of Woodstock, Vt., and Hannah Moshcr of Holli 
" II, Elienezer Butterfield of Dunstable and Lucy Hobart of Hollis. 
•' 18, C.hristopher P. Farley and Mary Shcrwin, both of Hollis, 
James W'orcester and Alary Lawrence, ■' ■' 

Ebenezer Duncklee of Amherst and Salome Wright of Hollis. 
Stephen Lund, Jun., of Alerrimack and Mary Hadley of Hollis. 
July iS, Barnabas Sanders and St)phia Bush, both of Hollis. 
William Youngman and Martha Mooar, " '• 

Amos Wheeler -.uid Mary Rideout, '• " 

Thomas Hamlet and Anna Rideout, " 

Amos Foster of Tewksbury and Rhoda Foster of Hollis. 
Timothy W\inan of Hillsborongli and Abigail Dow of Hollis. 
James Parker and Betsey W"right, both of Hollis. 

1814, Mar. 2, Daniel Campbell of Townsend and Susan Colburn of Hollis. 
Jonathan Stevens and Abigail Foster, both of Hollis. 

William Emerson and Sarah Jewelt, both of Hollis. 

Jacob McGilvrey ot Medford and Betsey Brown of Hollis. 

Jonathan Mclntire of Wilton and Sibbel Reed of Hollis. 

Jacob Blanchard of Dunstable and Mary Hazelton of Hollis. 

Jonathan Hale and Lydia Lawrence, both of Hollis. 

Kendall Cheney of Dunstable and Martha Blood of Hollis'. 

Benjamin Smith and Nancy Jewett, both of Hollis. 

Thomas W. Stearns and Sally Neviris, " •• 

Daniel Mooar, Jun., and Mary K. Wheat, " " 

John Shipley and Wid. Susannah Lovejoy, " " 

Benjamin Farley, :;th,, and Rachel Foster, '• " 

Nathaniel Paul and Elizabeth Lauison, " " 

I^evi Kemp and Lydia Hobart, 

Th(jinas Mooar of Dunstable and Lvdia Patch of Hollis. 
" '• 27, Crista Duncan of Hancock and Lois Dow of Hollis. 

" " 27, Samuel Smith of Brookline and Sallj' Dow of Hollis. 

1815, Apr. 13, William Brown, Jun., and Hannah Farlev. both of HoUis, 
" " 13, Abijah Shed and Sophia Blood, 

Daniel Blood and Wid. Rebecca Chamberlain," " 

Levi Pierce and Esther .Vdams, " " 

iSiO. Feb. 22, William Willoughby and Mary A. Powers, '• " 

Washington Willoughby and Lucy Saunderson, both of Hollis. 
Lemuel Snow of Worcester, Ma.ss., and Abigail Worcester of Hollis 
" 15, John Gutterson, Jun., of Milford and Martha Sawtell of Hollis. 
" iS, James Hardy and Mary Smith, both of Hollis. 
" iS, Jeremiah K. Needham of Milford and Olive Parker of Hollis. 
" -S, Jeremiah Preston of Mason and Anna Proctor of Hollis. 
June 6, Eleazer Pierce and Betsey Proctor, both of Hollis. 
July 74, Mather Withington aud Nancy Gilson, " '• 

Sept- 7, Thomas Davis and Deborah Hobart, " " 

Oct. 17, Jonathan Foster and Leefy French, " " 

Nov. 12, Jon.athan T. Wright and Elizabeth Colburn, both ot Hollis. 

m) 



Apr. 


ii 


" 


22. 


June 


-> 


July 


iS, 


Oct. 


17, 


Nov. 


!■ 


" 


17. 




23. 


Dec. 


2S. 


" 


2.S, 


.Mar. 


2, 


.Apr. 


4. 


Apr. 


IS, 


May 


I, 


June 


2, 


" 


6, 


" 


13, 


" 


28, 


July 


.=,<, 


Sept. 


6, 


" 


22, 


Oct. 


10, 


Nov. 


10, 


" 


24, 


" 


28, 


Dec. 


I, 



June 


8, 


Dec. 


28, 


Feb. 


21, 


Mar. 


iS. 


Apr. 


15. 



554 MARRIAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 

1816, Nov. 14, Oliver Stearns ot Mil ford and Mary \Villougliby of Hollis. 

" " 14, Christopher Farley and Constantina Cumings, both of HoUis. 

1817, Mar. 13, Nathaniel Dow and Mary Ames, " " 
" " 13, John Armstrong and Rebecca Hobart, " " 
•" Apr. 10, Andrew Shattuck of Dunstable and Phebc Jewctt of IloUis. 
" " 33, James Wheeler and Dorcas Mooar, both of Hollis. 

" May 6, Loammi Spauldingof Temple and Esther Wright of HoUi*. 
" July 10, Amos Shattuck and Mary Ball, both of Hollis. 
" Aug. 4, Paul Davis of Mason and Martha Shed of Hollis. 
" " 5, Ebene^er Shed and Elizabeth Duncklee, both of Hollis. 

" Sept. 16, Ebenezer Farley, 3d, and Leafy Duncklee, " " 

•" Nov. 9, Dr. Noah Hardy and Betsey Farley, " " 

*' Nov. iS, Isaac Butterfield of Brookline and Abigail Pierce of Hollis. 
" " 20, Jonathan Lovejoy of Milford and Sarah Willoby of Hollis. 

" " 33, Amos Hardy and Mary Cumings, both of Hollis. 

" Dec. 2j, Ebenezer Blood and Betsey Abbott, " " 

" " 35, Daniel Walker of Marlborough, Mass., and Mary Hayden ot HoUis. 

iStS, Jan. I, Daniel Dow and Charlotte Farley, both of Hollis. 
" Feb. 5, Asa Jaquith and Esther Phelps, " " 

" " 36, Jeremiah Dow and .Sarah Eastman, " " 

" Mar. 6, John P. Gilson ot Dunstable and Rebecca Spaulding of Hollis, 
" Apr. 3, Capt. Daniel Bailey and Wid. Mary Lawrence, both of Hollis. 
William Brown, 3d, and Hannah Boynton, " " 

Ralph E. Tenney and Phebe C. Smith, " " 

Benjamin Farley, 4th, and Mehitable Blood, " " 

Benjamin Wright and Wid. Emma Bradley, " " 

Benjamin Carter of Wihr.ington and Mary Farley (.if Hollis. 
Moses Kendall of Tyngsborough and Mindwell Reed ot Hollis. 
Joseph Patch and Sally Johnson, both of Hollis. 
TS19, Apr. I, Moses Boynton, Jun., and Emma Lawrence, both of Hollis. 

Francis E. Fuller of Hardwick, Vt., and Martha Worcester of Hollia. 
Jesse Hardy and Eliza Mooar, both of Hollis. 

Amos B. Minot of Westniister, Mass., and Mary Hardy of Hoiii.«. 
Isaac French, Jun., and Rebecca Bush, both of Hollis. 
Leonard Bailey and Mary French, " " ' 

" " S, Gardner Mooar and Mary Hardy, " " 

" Nov. 5, Jonas Lawrence and F'anny Lawrence, " " 

" " 9, Minot Farley and Zeraiah Phelpfe, . " " 

1S21. Jan. 4, Freedom French and Sarah Mooar, " " 

" " 35, Thomas W. Hardy and Mehit^able Blood, '■ " 

" " 30, Benjamin Farley, Esq., and Wid. Susannah Smith, both of HoUis. 

" Feb. 22, Joseph Rideout, Jun., and Sukey Ranger, " " 

" Maj-. 15, Dea. Stephen Thurston of Bedford and Sarah Burge of Hollis. 
Asa Beverlyof Amherst and Roxiina Lovejoy of Hollis. 
Amos Eastman and Wid. Lydia Mooar, both of Hollis. 
Jeremiah BuUard of Rindge and Priscilla Reed of HoUi.s. 
Samuel L. Hardy and Roxana Duncklee, both of Hollis. 
Jonathan P. Woods and Lucinda Baker, " " 

Royal Woods and Catharine Lovejoy, " " 

Joel Barker of Milford and Wid. Catharine Lovejoy of Hollis. 
1833, Jan. 3, Daniel Greenwood of Dublin and Ribecca Hardy of Hollis. 
Daniel Iloltof Milford and Olive Proctor of Hollis. 
Phineas Cumings and Lucinda Lovejoy, both of Hollis. 
1813, Apr. 31, Luther \\'right and Hannah Lillis, " " 

Calvin Willoughby and Lucinda Wheeler, " " 

" 17, Louis Cochran of Andover and Mary Abbott of Hollis. 
May 3», Stephen Lovejoy, Jun., .and Lucy Hobart, both of HoUiB. 
June 8, Ebenezer Beard of Boston and Anna Patch of Hollis. 



" 


34, 


Aug. 


14. 


Oct. 


I, 


" 


39. 


Nov. 


33, 


Dec. 


^9. 


" 


3'- 


Apr. 


I, 


Sept, 


■30, 


Nov, 


■ >9> 


" 


^5, 


Dec. 


-. 


June S, 



June 


36, 


July 


4. 


Aug. 


13, 


" 


'9. 


Oct. 


iS, 


" 


21. 


Nov. 


37. 


Jan. 


3, 


" 


33, 


Feb. 


24. 


Apr. 


31, 


May 


1, 



MARRIAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 35 (^ 

18^3, Oct. 30, Joel Hardy and Eliza Johnson, botli ot Hollis. 

1S24, Feb. 4, Benjamin Wheeler and Rhoda Rideout, both of Hollis. 

" !Mar. 23, Abel Ball and Sally F'rench, " " 

" Apr. 29, Noah Farley and Ruth Lawrence, " " 

" " 29, William Kittredge of Harvard and Lucy Sauaderson oi HolUs. 

" May 13, Samuel Colburn of Groton and Sarah Woods of Hollis. 

" " 30, Benjamin Austin, Jun., and Hannah Pierce, both of Hollis. 

" July II, Jefferson Rockwood and .Sarah Lovejov, " " 

" Oct. iS, ^Villiam S. Bradbury and Elizabeth Emerson, " " 

" " 23, Leonard Blood of Hollis and Hannah Hale of Dunstable, N. H. 
Dec. S, Timothy Patch and Hannah Burns, both of Hollis. 

, " " 2S, Ehenezer White of Boston and Susan Hale of Hollis. 

1S25, Jan. 5, John Minot of Westminster, Mass., and Wid. Mary Minol of Hollis. 

" Mar. 27, Nathan Thayer, Esq., and Mary Jewett, both oi HolUs. 

" Apr. 5, Benoni G. Cutter and Lucy Pool, " " 

" May I, Joel Parker and Eliza Crawford, •• '• 

" " 26, Daniel Lawrence of Hollis and Sarah Fletcher of Peppere II. 

" Oct. II, Francis E. F~uller of Hai-dwick, Vt., and Hannah Worcester ot Hollis. 

" " iS, Andrew Dean of Dunstable and Sarali Hale ot Hollis. 

" Nov. 17, Abel Farley and Elizabeth F"arley, both of Hollis. 

" " 24, Samuel C^uaid and -Sarah Boynton. " " 

" " 25, Jonathan Cragin of Clareinont and Marv Wright, 3d, of Hollis. 

" Dec. 14, Ralph W. Jewett and Betsey Farley, both of Hollis. 

" 16, Willard Blood of Dunstable and Sally Blood of Hollis. 

" " 27, Alvin Shed of New Ipswich and Laurinda Smith of Hollis. 

1526, Jan. 19, Dea. Stephen Thurston of Bedford and Hannah Worcester ot Hollis. 
" Feb. 14, Washington Willoughby and Elizabeth Wheeler, both of Hollis. 

" June 28, Gilbert Brooks of Medford and Martha Burge of Hollis. 
" " 29, Silas Hardy of Westminster, Vt., and Abigail Hardy of Hollis. 

" Sept. 26, Ebenezer Sargent of Henrietta, N. Y., and Mary Wright of Hollis. 
" Nov. 12, George Sherburne and Susannah Runnells, both of Hollis. 
" " 15, Ichabod W. Saunderson Lind Hannah Ball, " " 

John N. Worcester and Sarah Ilulden, '• •' 

1527, Feb. 13, Timotliy Hodgman and Charlotte Willoughby, " " 
Oliver Conroy of Hollis and Miranda Fisk of Dunstable. 
Eleazer T. Merrill and Susan Bro\\ii. both of Hollis. 
James Parker and Susan Woods, " " 
Leonard Chafin of Groton, Mass., and Mary Wright of Hollis. 
William Conant and Sarah Hale, both of Hollis. 
Calvin Wright of Hollis and Eunice Shattuck of Dunstable. 
William Gilbert of Francestown and Mary Ranger of Hollis. 

1S2S, Apr. S, Henry Woods of Groton, Mass., and Hannah M. Thayer of Hollis. 

" " 17, John Parker and Mary Ann Gould, both of Hollis. 

May II, John L. Rix of Haverhill, N. H., and Elizabeth Hale of Hollis. 

" " 26, Alpheus Eastman of Hollis and Sally Williams of Warwick, Mass. 

" June 5, David Hoyt of Charlestown, :Mass., and Sarah N. Pool of Hollis. 

" Oct. 9, Rev. Darwin Adams of Camden, Me., and CatharineN. Smitli of Hollis. 

" " 2S, Hiram Wood and Annis S. Jewett, lioth of Hollis. 

" Dec. 30, Ebenezer Runnells and Wid. Lydia Hale, " " 

1829, Jan. 19, Charles Gilson of Pepperell and Mary Colburn of Hollis. 

" .\pr. 7, Asahel Reed of Merrinuick and Priscilla R. French of Hollis. 

" " 9, Obadiah T. Eaton of New Ipswich and Clarissa Farley of HoUis. 

" " 9, Leonard Shipley of Dunstable and Sibbel Spalding of Hollis. 

Aug. 10. John B. Hill of Exeter, Me., and Achsah Parker of Hollis. 

" " 13, Alpheus Rideout and Lydia S. Powers, lioth of Hollis. 

" " 13, Mark Webster of Lowell, Mass., and Eunice Wright of Hollis. 

" Nov. 24, Capt. Leonard Blood. and Lucy Dow, both of Hollis. 
1S30, Feb. 2, Leonard Hideout and Wid. Mary Davis. " 



Dec. 


26, 


Feb. 


13. 


Mar. 


S, 


" 


16, 


July 


13. 


Nov 


16, 


" 


19. 


Dec. 


4. 


Apr 


s, 



Apr. 


'3. 


Dec. 


-■ I 


Mar. 


ID, 




3'. 


Apr. 


r^ 


Mnv 


17. 


June 


0. 


Aug. 


4. 


Sept. 


J2, 


Oct. 


3. 


Nov. 


i7-> 



356 MAKKIAGKS IN L IIKON'O I.OGICAI, ORDKft. 

sSjo, Feb. 10, Rev. Noah Kmer.son of Jiiildwin, Me., and Ama Smith of Hollis. 
" 22, Luther Hardy and Hannali W. Sawtell. both of Hollis. 
Elias Colburn and Thankful Rideout. " " 

Mark Dow and Cliarlotte BU)od, •' " 

lJ)aniel Wyman of Hillsborough and Louisa Mooar of Hollis. 
18,^1, Mar. 10, Abijah Fletcher of Westford and Louisa I^awrence of Hollis. 
Ebenczer Baldwin and Rebecca Bailey, both of Hollis. 
AVinslow Reed and Mary Pierce, " " 

Timothy U. Patch and Mary Proctor, " " 

Ira Beaman of Westminster, Mass., and Kezia Colburn of Hollis. 
P'ranklin Abbott of Milford and Indiana Proctor of Hollis. 
.Sullivan Howard of Mason and Elizabeth B. Little of Hollis. 
Douglas R. Patterson of Amherst and Dolly Ann Wood of Hollis. 
Asa Farley and Sibliel C. Holt, both of Hollis. 
Francis (ewett and Louisa Rideout, 
Silas Spalding: and Lucinda Wood, " 

" '• 2-u David W. Sawtell and Sarah P. Farley, " 

Dec. 22, David \\'oods of Hancock and Esther Wheeler of Hollis. 

J3. William Bowers of Dunstable and Mary Ann Hubbard of Hollis. 
iSji. Jan. 19, Daniel Shattuck and NLiry Ann Shatlr.ck, lioth of Hollis. 
■' Feb. 27, Bradley Colburn and Naomi Boynton, " " 

" >Lar. 19, Jesse Templeton and .Sarah F'oster, " " 

Apr. 5, Nathaniel Hobart and Hannah Colburn, " •' 

May 17, Daniel Abbott of Dracut, Mass,, and Elsie Marshall of Hollis. 
" Nov. 2S, Nathaniel Hardy and Hannah K. P.Trkcr, both of Hollis. 

1533, M'*!". 3, John IT. Cutter and Susah F. Pool, " '• 
" " .11, Daniel I''arlev and PoUv F'arley, " 
" Apr. 2, Jacob D. Austin and Lucv S. Wright, " " 

9, William Wlicelcr of Milford and Xanty C. M. Utile of Holli.-. 
25, .Moses Proctor and Indiana Don, both of Hollis. 
May 22, Joseph Ober and Khoda C. Colburn, " " 

June 26, Natlianiel F\ Howand Alniira Ridecuit, " 
" Aug. 27, Ambrose H. Wood and Mary Ann Colbni ri, both of Hollis. 
Jonathan W. Lovejov and Elizabeth Colburn. " " 

1534, Feb. 20, John L. Pool and Mary Boynton, '■ " 
Ezekiel M. Bradley and Lvdia Dow, '• " 
George W. Hubbard of Pepperell and Emma Burge of Hollis. 
Mark W. Merrill of Dunstable and Catharine Hale of Hollis. 
D.tniel Edgcrly of Sanbmnton, and Mary H. Ste\ens ot Hollis. 
Mark F'arley and Mary S. Crosby, both of Hollis. 
Isaac Jewctt of Nashville, Teiin., and Lydia C. Cillnirn of Hollis. 

" 30, Luke Hale and Mary Morrison, lioth of Hollis. 
■' Nov. 6, Benjamin G. Searles of Rowley, Mass., and Phchc C. Cutter of Hollis 
" " 16, Joel Blood and Rachel Lund, both of Hollis. 

" 27, Charles F. Hall and Martha Willoby, " 
1S3S, Jan. 4, George Worcester of Hudson and Wid. Rachel Colburn of Hollis. 
" Feb. 26, Luke Putnam of Dunstable, N. IL, and Rebecca J. Hale of Hollis. 
" Mar. 5, En -Spalding of Chelmsford, Mass., and Ahara Spalding of Hollis. 
" Apr. 12, William Adams and Sarah Ann Adams, both of Hollis. 
" " 19, Ebenezer Ranger and Maria Tozer, " " 

" " 20, Charles Walker of New Ipswich and Hannah Walker of Hollis. 

" May 7, Alfred Knight of Lancaster and Mary Butterfield of Hollis, 
'• •• 21, Mark Mooar and Charlotte Wright, both of Hollis. 

Silas French and Esther Saunderson, " " 

James Burgess of Dunstable, N. H., and Caroline HoUlcn of Hollis. 
Stillman Spaulding and Ann Holden, both of Hollis. 
Daniel Livingston of I^owell and Sophronia Lund of Hollis. 
1S30, Jan. iS, .\rtemas Hale and Mary Ann Wheat, both of Hollis. 



Oct. 


•24. 


Feb. 


20, 


Apr. 


S, 


May 


II, 


'• 


-9- 


June 


1. 


Aug. 


-5' 


Oct. 


s. 



Jvuie 


-3' 


Nov. 


^4. 


'• 


Ht 


Dec, 


3' 


Jan. 


iS, 



Mar. 


,Vi 


June 


2, 


J'l'y 


I, 


Oct. 


13. 


" 


13. 


Nov. 


10, 


Dec. 


■■!. 


.. 


zS, 


Apr. 


6, 

(1 


June 




Au-. 


3 ' • 


Sept. 


-I. 


Oct. 


4' 



MARRIAGES IN CHRONOI.OO ICAI- ORDER. 357 

•iS.50, M:ir. ,v, Joseph D. Parker and Eucretia Smith, hoth of llollis. 
Varnuin Wheeler and Mary Wood, " " 

Gains Wrig^ht, Jun., and Naomi Parker, " " 

Elbridge Livingston of Lowell and Irene Lund of HoUis. 
Christopher F. Smith and Rachel R. F"arley, both of Hollis. 
Joseph Brown of Chester and Wid. Patty Patch of Hollis. 
Charles G. Clapp of Nortliainpton, Mass., and Sarah Lawrence of 

Hollis. 
George W. Parker and Mary Woods, both of Hollis. 
1S37, Apr. 6, Thomas Lund of Hollis and Bridget French of Nashua. 
Warner Read and Louisa Wright, both of Hollis. 
John Kjirley and Hannah Blood, " " 

Alfred Farley and Lydia Farley, " " 

William Parker of Pepperell and Martha Patch of Hollis. 
William Flagg of West Boylston and Louisa Hardy of Hollis. 
ij, Rev. Dudley Phelps of Groton and Lucretia G. Farley of Hollis. 
'• 2b, Enoch Jewett and Wid. Sarah Willoby, both of Hollis. 
" Nov. 7, Jonas W. Jaqiiith and Mary J. Austin, " " 

" " 21, Freeman Wallace of Bethel, Vt., and Jane Farley of Hollis. 

1S3S, Mar. 19, Eri McDaniells of Brookline and Ann Farley of Hollis. 
" Apr. 5, Isaac R. Lawrence and Marinda Wheeler, both of Hollis. 
" " 17, James Farley, Jun., and Martha T. Mooar, '• " 

" j6, Capt. Josiah Blood and Wid. Dorcas Spaulding, both of Hollis. 
Rev. Joseph Warren and Lydia Dale, " " 

Ethan Willoughby of Hollis and Julia Marshall of Hudson. 
Amos Wheeler of Nashua and Rebecca Wheeler of Hollis. 
.Samuel Bancroft of Pepperell and Hannah E. Hardy of Hollis. 
Abial Steele of Milledgeville, Ga., and Betsey Hardy " •' 
Moses Proctor of Boston and Elizabeth Conant of Hollis. 
1S39, Mar. 7, Harvey A. Powers of Pepperell and Sarah Colburn of Hollis. 
Charles L. Colburn and Emeline Wright, both of Hollis. 
Cyrus Whitcomb of Fitchburg and Esther Ann Nichols of Hollis. 
EH Spalding of Pepperell and Harriet Eastman of Hollis. 
David J. Weight and Sarah J. Colburn, both of Hollis. 

1840, Jan. 14, Theodore Wheeler, Jun., and Charlotte Wetherbee, both of Hollis 
Jacob Sinilding and Jane Ranger. " '• 
Charles A. Wood of Hollis and Hannah A. Washer of Nashua. 

S, Josiah Hayden and Submit Swallow, both of Hollis. 

" " S, Leonard Swan of Nashua and Sabrina Hale of Hollis. 

" iS, Phineas Hardy and Wid. Rebecca C. Hardy, both of Hollis. 

'• Nov. ly, Reuben Hardy of Hollis and .Vhigail Stearns of Merrimack. 

1841, Mar. iS, Benjamin N. Stearns and Susan E. Colburn. both of Hollis. 
1S43, Aug. iS, Ezra Shed and Lydia Reed, 

Sept. 15, W'illiani A. Colburn of Hollis and Mary Hardy of Hudson. 

" " 15, Jefferson Farley and Charlotte M. Farley, both of Hollis. 

1543, Jan. 31, Charles B. Fletcher of Lyndon, Vt., and Lucy F. Farley of Hollis. 
" Mar. 13, Daniel D. F.Johnson and Fidelia Kemp, both of Hollis. 

" Apr. 4, William Hardy of Salem, Mass., and Ann M. Richardson of Hollis. 

" May 9, Daniel M. Smith of Hollis and Hannah Newton of Nashua. 

" " 10, Nathan Willoughby and Elizabeth A. Marshall, both of Hollis. 

" June 29, Charles O. Wood and Luella P. Hardy, " " 

" Nov. I, Leonard Lyon of Cambridge, Mass., and Mary D. P'arley of Hollis. 

" " 9, Reuben F. Foster of Concord, N. II., and Sarah E. Ames " " 

" Dec. 7, Horace Field and Sarah E. Farley, both of Hollis. 

" " 12, Silas S. W^heeler and Irene Wyman, " " 

1544, Feb. 6, Andrew J. Spalding and Mary Ann Wheeler, both of Holli>. 
" " 22, John Coburn and Wid. Naomi Colburn, '■ " 

" June 13, John C. Bell and Sarah .A.. Dow, both of Hollis. 



June 


20, 


July 


7t 




8, 




19. 


Nov. 


4- 


.Mar. 


22, 
7- 


Apr. 




Aug. 


I, 


Oct. 


7- 


Jan. 


'4. 


May 


12| 


Sept. 


16. 


Oct. 


s, 



35^ }k4ARKIAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDEr/ 

)844, Nov. 13, Edwartl Emtrson of }lollis ;ind Hannah Cuniings Pierce of Boston. 

" " 19, Benjamin G. Searles and Alniira Buttertield, botli of Hollis. 

1&4S, Jan. I, John Hardy and Hannah Farley, " " 

" " 29, Rufus N. Walling ford of Milford and Susan Farley of Hollis. 

" " 29, Nathaniel G. Fcrnald of Lowell and Harriet Farley of Hollis. 

" Mar. 6, Luther Proctor of Hollis and Frances P. Wallace of Pepperell. 
" Ajir. S, George Bancroft of Boston and Sarah G. Farley of Hollis. 
" " 16, Adolphus Stevens of Pepperell and Nancy J. Wallace of Hollis. 

" Aug. 5, William S. Young- of Fitcliburg and Sarah A. Wright of HoUisi. 
" Oct. 16, Calel> Brown of Nashua and Mary Ann Reed of Hollis. 

" 16, James S. Rideout and Harriet M. Hartshorn, both of Hollis. 
" " 21, James Little and Emeline Colburn, " " 

" Dec. 4, Charles Hale and Nancy Ranger, 11.. 

" " 9, Benjamin Whiting and Esther S. Wriglit, " " 

1846, Jan. I, Mansfield Senter of Nashua and Mury Ann Willoby of Hollis. I 
" Mar. 26, Jonas Blood and Wid. Susannah Wheeler, both of Hollis. 
" May 12, Frederick Blood and Mehitabel Rideout, " " 

" Sept. 24, Charles P. Wood and ]Iarriet Mooar, •• '• 

Nov. 5, Ebenezer T. Wheeler and Mary Ann Blood, '• •• 
Nov. 16, Benjamin F. Steele of Wilton and Rachel Colburn of Hollis. 
1S47, Apr. 25, Nehemiah Woods and Mary Ann Woods, both of Hollis. 

May 5, William P. Saunderson and Hannah C. Marshall, both of Hollis. 

" 6, Ralph J. Holden and Eliza Ann ILirdv, " " 

Nov.iS, James Blood and Emeline Wheeler, •• " 

Simeon A. Spalding of Hollis and Catharine P. Sawtell of Brooklinf., 
David W. Sawtell and Sarah J. Rideout, both of Hollis. 
Minot Wheeler of Hollis and Sarah Ann Hardy of liudson. 
John C. Foster of Milford and Sophia P. Farley of Hollis. 
Joseph Gates and Susan E. Lovejoy, both of Hollis. 
Jacob R. Bagley and Dorcas C. Woods, both of Hollis. 
5. Oliver L. Dow of Hancock and Mary Ann Eastman of Hollis. 
" "11. Thomas S. Patch and Lucy A. Newton, b<ith of Hollis. 

June 4, James W. Wheeler and Kezia A. Wheeler, " " 
" 20, Nathan M. Ames and Ascnath Hardy, " " 

" Nov. 30, Dexter Greenwood and Mary Holden, " " 

Dec. 14, John B. Perkins and Sophia A. Little, " " 

1850, Jan. I, Samuel W. Fox and Abigail A. Lovejoy, both of Hollis. 
" July 4, Benjamin L. Farley and Elizabeth R. Howe, " " 

1851, Apr. 2, George Moore and Susan AL Butters, " " 
" " 10, James Willoughby of Milford and Lucretia L. Wood of Hollis. 
" July 15, Rev. Daniel P. Deming and Abby A. Hardy, both of Hollis. 
" Oct. 29, Asa Jaquith and Lucy Frencli, " " 

Nov. 25;, Charles Marsh of Bethel, ^'l., and Susan E. Farley of Hollis. 

" Dec. 17, Joseph E. Smith of Hollis and Charlotte Richardson of Pembroke. 

iS52, May 13, Enoch J. Colburn of Hollis and Elmira Steele of Wilton. 

" June 3, Oliver Willoby of Hollis and Fanny Nichols of Amherst. 

" July 27, Thomas Proctor, Jun.. and Susan R. Pool, both of Hollis. 

Oct. 20, Stephen T.Ellis of Walden, Vt. and Elizabeth N.B. Colburn of Hoi 

" " 26, Luke M. Blood and [osephine E. Woods, both of Hollis. 

" Ebenezer Ranger and Sarah Ball, " " 

1553, Feb. 15, (Jrant P. Saunderson and Harriet Bl.Kid. botli of Hollis. 
" " 24, Augustus R. Lovejoy of Hollis and Jane AL Boutwell of Antrim. 

Mar. 14, Rodney J. Hardy of Boston and Sarah E. Tenney of Hollis. 

June 2, Alfred M. Hardy of Hollis and Elizabeth J. Sweet of Lowell. 

Aug. 7, Addison E. Winch of Westminster and Rosette Rideout of Hollis. 

1554, Feb. 2. James Farley, 3d, of Hollis and Mrs. Abby Taylor of Nashua. 
" " 9, Benjamin W. Rideout and Susan Ranger, both ot Hollis. 

.Mar. 12, Ichabod F. Lund of Hollis and Emily A. Corliss of Nashua. 



Dec. 


31, 


" 


23. 


Feb. 


1 , 


" 


'5- 


Mar. 


2, 


Apr. 


4- 



" 


" 


3- 


" 


" 


^5- 


" 


Mar. 


^7- 


" 


Apr. 


'3- 


" 


May 


S, 


" 


Dec. 


30, 


•S57. 


Jan. 


I, 


:: 


Feb. 


5» 

2?. 


.$53. 


Jan. 
Fch. 
Mar. 


i4> 



MARRIAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 359 

1S55, Apr. II, Truman Ilurd of Nashua and Emeline Ridt'out of Mollis. 

" " 11, Noah Dow and Mary J. Patch, both of Mollis!. 

" St'pt. 5, Thomas Lund and Betsey Blood, " " 

" Oct. 3, Lutlier Cheney of Nashua and Lydia C. Winn of Mollis. 

1555, Mar. 31, John R. Parker of Mollis and Cornelia M. Sawyer of Merrimack. 
" Apr. 5, Perry M. Farley and Sarah Farley, both of Mollis. 

" June 38, Samuel K. Rich of Boston and Frances A. Spauldinef of Mollis. 

" Sept. 13, Jabez A. Sawyer of Roxbury and Sarah C. Worcester of Mollis. 

" Dec. 13, Miram G. Felton of Amherst and Mrs. Jane Austin of Mollis. 

1556, [an. I, Harvey N. Willoby of HoUis and Mary M. Pease of Weston. 
" " I, Abel .Spencer of Nashua and Melissa Willoby of HoUis. 

Albert S. Powers of Milford and .Sophia A. Spalding of HoUis. 
Isaac Fletcher of HoUis and Phebe J. Draper of Lyndeborough. 
D.avid M. Farley and Elvira Wheeler, both of HoUis. 
Samuel B. Blood and Sanih Wheeler, " " 

Caleb Farley and Sarah M. Patch, " " 

Josiah Colburn of HoUis and Rebecca Wood of Litchfield. 
Warren K. Lovejoy and Mary A. Wright, both of Mollis. 
Asa Noyes of Danvers and Mrs. Rebecca C. Hardy of HoUis. 
Levi Abbot and Matilda Abbot, both of HoUis. 
Francis Lovejoy and Ellen M. Hardy, both of HoUis. 
Charles Moses of New York and Susan Fox of IloUis. 
Nathaniel Pierce and Hannah M. Wheeler, both of HoUis. 
Apr. S, James T. Willoby of HoUis and Cornelia L. Pierce of Brooklinc. 

" 3Q, Charles F.Chase of Nashua and Susan A. Blood of Mollis. 
Nov. 24, Josiah Ilayden of HoUis and Mahala Millard. 

Mark L. Willobj- of HoUis and Maria A. Wentworth of Chelmsford. 
Jeremiah K. Needham of HoUis and Eliz.ibeth H. Carlton of Merrimack 
Daniel F. Runnels and Sarah E. Farley, both of HoUis. 
Oliver P. Eastman and Lucy A. Hardy, " " 

Charles H. Wright and Hattie E. Stratton, " " 

1S59, Apr. 5, Milton J. Hardy of Decatur, 111., and Susan E. Cutter of Hollis. 
William Hale, Jun., and Mehit.able G. Blood, both of Hollis. 
Asa B. Eaton of Manchester, and Roaniia S. Farley of Hollis. 
Stephen W. Moore of Nashua and Julia Rideout of Hollis. 
i860, Mar. I, Timothy E. Flagg and Susan A. Proctor, both of HoUis. 

Charles Richardson of Marlborough and Rebecca F. Hardy of Hollis. 
John F. Smith and Mrs. Sarah Smith, both of HoUis. 
" June 28, Francis Tubbs and Mrs. Mary F. Lund, " " 

" Nov. 29, Albert Shedd and Mary A. Farley, " " 

" 29, William li. Gerrish of Boston and Eliza R. Willoby of HoUis. 
:S6i, Nov. 19, Alpheus Rideoift of Hollis and Hannali Russell of Lawrence. 

" Dec. 5, John R. Parker and Susan H. Farley, both of Mollis. 
1S62, Apr. 7, Henry Smithwick of Hollis and Mary A. Smithwick of Nashua. 
" May 6, Silas M. Spalding and Louisa D. Bradley, both of HoUis. 
■" Oct. 9, William F. Spaulding and Mary E.Farley, " " 

" Dec. ti, Dexter L. Blood of Hollis and Cornelia A. Lovejoy of Amherst. 
1863,. Feb. 28, Albert H. Brooks of Townsend and Mary J. Hardy of Hollis. 
" May 19, Charles P. Ober and Louisa W. Hart, both of Hollis. 
" June 30, Charles S. Spaulding of Mollis and Mercian Barton of Lowell. 
" Nov. 4, Alfred Boynton of Pepperell and I.,ucy A. Colburn of Hollis, 
" Nov. 14, John H. Pool of Boston and Ellen L. Runnells of Hollis. 

1564, June J, Hale Gage and Jane E. Patch, both of Hollis. 

Oct. II, E. C. Frost of Nashua and M. Elizabeth Hills of Hollis. 

1565, Feb. 5, Waldo E. Hill and Elvira A. W<x)d, both of Hollis. 

" June 10, Benjamin L. Farley of HoUis and Persis D. Plummer of Goffstomm. 
" Sept 30, Curtis H. Bill of Albany, Vt., and Mary J. Worcester of HoUIs. 
" Oct. 19, Alfred Farley of HollU and Mary W. Eastman of Milford. 



Sept. 


9, 


Dec. 


2, 


Dec. 


9, 


" 


9. 


" 


27. 


Apr. 


5, 


June 


3, 


July 


9, 


Nov. 


34, 


Mar. 


I, 


May 


14- 


" 


25. 



360 MARRIAGES IN CllRONOLOGICA]. ORDER. 

1S65, Dec. 7, Ru.s.sell S. Putnam of Maiden, Mass.. and Sarali '1". Colburn of Holli? 
1866, Jan. 7, Charles O. Whittemore of Merrimack and Emma II. Hardy of HoUis. 
" Apr. 24, George W. Pierce of Brookline and Emma A. Wood of Jlollis. 
" Oct. 15, Gustavus S. Moore and Harriet Wright. 
Frank Dennis and Christene E. Davis. 
Eyman W. Willouglihy and Harriet F. Willouuliliy. 
A\"illiam II. Parsons and Susan M. I^eacli. 

Horace Goodwin of Marblehead and Mary S. \\ ilkin.s of HoUis.. 
Charles S. Runnells and Fidelia A. Wheeler, both of HoUis. 
Francis M. Lund and Eliza J. Wheeler, " " 

Perlev I-. Pierce of Brookline and Mary Ann Wood of Hollis. 
James C. Hildreth and Mary S. Colburn, both of Hollis. 
1. H. Bond of Walthani and Ella J. Proctor of Hollis. 
Augustus B, Wheeler and Ellen Wheeler, both of Hollis. 

Henry Moore ol and Letitia A. Hardy of Hollis.. 

Francis A. Wood and Abbie J. Coburn, both of Hollis. 
George II. Messer and Sarah E. Whiting. 
John A. Coburn of Hollis and Mary E. Bills of Townsend. 
p;dward H. Wood and Esther Benson, both of Hollis. 
William P. Cutter and Clara !•;. \\'riglit. 

Henry G. Hildreth n{ Xeulou. Mas.^.. ;iiul Elizabeth J. Spalding of H. 
Samuel \V. I'letcher of Pepperell and .Martha Worcester of I lollis. 
William E. box and Eunice T. Hanger, both of Holli>,. 
Clinton .Sco\ille of Conesville, N. V.. and Eytiia l<'ields of Hollis.. 
]osiah N. llayden and Clara E. Farley, botli of Hollis. 
Alonzo It. Wilson and Eva Shedd. 

William E. Howe of Hollis and Hattie (;. Lund of .Millord . 
Abel Colburn and Anna L. Ileywood, both of Hullis. 
David McKean of Amherst and Sarah M. Hodgeman of HoUis. 
Eugene A. Flagg of Worcester, Mass., and Katie F. Spaulding. 
.Nathaniel Wliitetield of l''raiu estrnvn. and Mrs. Laurinda Fowler ui: 

Mollis. 
William Worcester and Nellie IJ. Kead, both of Hollis. 
Charles A. L-ivejoy and I'Jlen M. Day, both of Hollis. 
Isaac W. Pierce of Pepi>erell and Lucy A. Blood of Holli,-,. 
1S70. [an. o. William H.Jc.rdan of Glouce-ter, Mass.. ajid Harriet K. Worcester of. 
Ih.llis. 
•' 20. Samuel A. Woreesier aTul Li/./.ic 15. Day, b,.tli of Hollis. 

.Albert Wheeler of Uolli;- And .\delia S. Hubbard of Nashua. 
]ames K. Hills and Sarah ]■ . ]• letcher. both of Hollis. 
George M. Bradlc o! Hollis and Maria L. Colburn of Hudson... 
Amos Fletcher of Hollis a.nd Maria K. Lee of Nashua. 
.Vliert J. Farley and Etta !•'. Wheeler, botli of H(dlis. 
Henry .S. Spaulding and liva I.Wheeler. 

Levi r..c'ra)ie of New Bedford and Julia Willoughby of Hollis. 
Norman V. Blood of (nnlon and Helen A. Smith of Hollis. 
" 15, Isaac F. Fletcher of Lyndon. \"t., and Elizabeth Merrill ol Hollis. 
Aug.i.'v John H. Hardy of Hollis and Jennie A. Conant of Littleton. Mass, 
Nov. 30, .\lbert V. Shipley of Nashua and Miriam B. Truell of Hollis. 
1872, Feb. 5. David S. Drajjer of Lyndeborough and Cornelia H. Hall of Hollis. 
" 2S, CharlesA.Hale.il Mollis and l-lniogene Tlunnas of Hudson. 
" 2S, George Dou of Mollis and Le\ey \'. Draper of .Nashua. 

Albert Lovejoy of Hollis and Charlotte S. Barrett of Nashua. 

Horace Kideout and Ellen N. Hideout, both of Hollis. 

Edward S. Colburn, 2d, of Hollis and Abby J. Barnaby. 

Robert Morse and Grace Burnham, both of Hollis. 

Albert C. Meady of Bostcm and Carrie S. Pearse of Hollis. 

Ramsav C. Houtwell <if Hollis and Lucv A. Clark of Lvndeboi-ouy.li, 



" 


" 20, 


'• 


" -5' 


" 


" -iS. 


" 


Nov. 21, 


'^y-;. 


I-'eb. f.. 


" 


" 0. 


" 


Mar. 31, 


" 


April 2. 

Inlv > 


.. 


JUl) 2. 
Oct. 2, 


'• 


Nov. 2S, 


" 


" 2S. 


'■ 


Dec. ;„ 


86S, 


Feb. 10, 


•' 


jVIar. 30, 


" 


Oct. 27, 


" 


Nov. 25, 


'• 


Dec. 1 , 


S6<;, 


Jan. 24, 


" 


Mar. 11, 


.. 


20, 
Apr. 20, 


" 


May 19, 


'■ 


" .!7. 


" 


June 24, 




July :<>, 


" 


Sept. 14, 


- 


Nov. iS, 


'• 


Dec. ,i. 



Apr. 


'4. 


Mav 


2S, 


Nov. 


15- 




24, 


Dec. 


S. 



14, 



Ai.r. 


20. 


Aug. 


■ 7- 


" 


21 . 


Sept. 


4- 


Nov. 


20, 



MARRIAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 



361 



1873, Feb. 13 

" June 26 

" Aug. 5 

" Sept. 22 

" Oct. 29 

" Nov. 26; 

1S74, Mar. 18, 

" June 2; 

" July 14 
" 14, 

" " 20 

" Aug. 21 

*' Sept. 24 

" Nov. 15 

" Dec. 24 

1875, Jan. 21 

" Feb. 17 

" Mar. 8 

" " II 

" April 4 



" June 2 
" Aug. 3 
" " iS, 

" Sept. 9 

" 29, 

" Dec. 14 

1876, Jan. 

" iS^ 

" Fen. 2 

" " 2 

" June 10 

" Aug. 25 

" Nov. 29 

Dec. 8 

1S77, Jan. I 

" 23 

" 25 

" Feb. 3, 

" Apr.2S: 

" May 30 

Sept. 3 

Nov. 14 

(25) 



John L. Boynton of Pepperell and Josephine L. Fletcher of Ilollis. 
William D. Trow and Nellie A. Hale, both of HoUis. 
Nathan F. Abbott of Hartford, Ct., and Caroline A. Hills of Hollis. 
Alphonso H. Powers of Hollis and Frances H. Tufts of Litchfield. 
Ralph E. Tenney and Sallie A. Cutter, both of Hollis. 
Amos N. Truell and Clara M. Twiss, " " 

Samuel R. Merrill and Mary L. Smith, " " 

Leonard Butterfield and Rebecca Noyes, " " 

Wellington A. Hardy of New York and Mary C. Cutter of Hollis. 
William B. Wliitney of Columbus, Ind., and Lucy F. Cutter of Hollis. 
Stephen J. Smith and Mary E. Bradley, both of Hollis. 
Walker H. Blake of Hollis and Augusta E. Jones of Amherst. 
Henry T. Stimson of Boston and Nellie M. Woods of Hollis. 
Willard E. Wright and Nellie B. Gates, both of Hollis. 
Judson J. Willoughby of Hollis and Annie C Shattuck of Pepperell. 
B. F. Swan and Frances E. Longley, both of Hollis. 
Frank E. Nichols and Sarah A. Twiss, " " 

Charles H. Bills of Hollis and Lizzie Mooar of Haverhill. 
Theodore Brown of Portland, Me., and Clara A. Spaulding of Hollis. 
Hiram B. Fletcher of Hollis and Cora E. Vaughan of Providence. 
George H. Blood and H. Augusta Hills, both of Hollis. 
Elbridge J. Farley and Georgiana Hall, " " 

Charles E. Gates of Hollis and Adelia A. Peacock of Amherst. 
James Moore of Nashua and Henrietta L. Hardy of Hollis. 
George H. Lovejoy and Ella F. Lovejoy, both of Hollis. 
Henry L. Smith of Hollis and Fannie E. Frost of Arlington. 
Charles F. Holmes and Nellie M. Bills, both of Hollis. 
Ralph J. Holden and Loinda Colburn, " " 

Luman C. Drake of Framingham, Mass., and Annie E. Pierce of H. 
yames W. Woods of Hollis and Sarah E. Parker of Pepperell. 
Lewis G. Woods of Hollis and Nellie M. Plummer of Goffstown. 
Edward N. Brown of Merrimack and Lizzie M. Holden of Hollis... 
George F. Hale of Hollis and Addie L. Ruston of Cambridge.. 
Henry Parker of Hollis and Sarah Butterfield of Pelham. 
Thomas T. Hobart of Hollis and Fannie Woods of Nashua,. 
Charles F Adams and Sarah M. Pierce, both of Hollis. 
John N. W. Spaulding and Hattie M. Wheeler, both of Hollis.. 
Milton A. Parker and Nellie M. Nichols, " " 

Nathaniel H. Proctor of Hollis and Lizzie S. Billings of Acton.. 
John B. Calderwood and Abbie J. Cameron, both of Hollis. 
Frederick M. Hill and Ella L. Colburn, both of Hollis. 
George H. Stearns of Hollis and Laurinda E. Corliss of Hudson. 
Geo. A. Burge of Hollis and Anna W. Chickering ot Somerville, Mass. 
Albert Kemp of Groton and Clara M. Truell of Hollis. 
George A. Newton of Hollis and Mary l^ Swett of Brookline. 



362 FAMILY REGISTERS. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

"FAMILY REGISTERS FROM 1 739 TO iSoO, COPIED MAINLY FROM 
THE IIOLLIS RECORDS. 

The following lists of Family Registers have been carefully com- 
piled, mainlv from the first three volumes of the Hollis records, in 
^vhich they were originally entered, (without order or method,) for 
the most part on the margin, of the pages or fractional blank leaves, 
from the beginning to the end of each volume. In some cases a 
part only of the births in the family registers here presented were 
recorded at all in tl^iese thi'ee volumes — the rest ot them, in the 
same family in another book, known as the '•'Record or Book of 
Births." In such cases the names of the other children, not found 
in the first three volumes, have been copied from the ''Book of 
Births." The recorded births of a nimiber of the early Ilollis 
families have also been copied from the original records of the old 
to-wn of Monson, and a few others, have been transcril)cd from 
carefully preserved private family records. 

In these family registers, as entered on the Hollis records, only 
the first or Christian names of the mothers were recorded, not 
their full maiden names. In these lists, such family names of the 
mothers as were found in the Ilollis records of marriages have 
been added to their Christian names. The full maiden names of 
many others of these mothers, not ibund in the records of marriages, 
are also embraced in these lists, when obtained from sources believed 
to be correct. When not so obtained, the names of the mothers 
are left as found in the original recoixls. 

It is not to be presumed that? the family registers recorded in these 
first three volumes of the Hollis records embrace the families of 
all the early settlers of the town, or that the lists of births in all 
the families so recorded and here presented are zvholly complete. 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



363 



It is known that the births in some of these early families were not 
so recorded, and it is also known that there were errors and omis- 
sions in some and probably in many of those that were recorded. 
Still it is believed that the Hollis records, in respect to the gene- 
alogies of its early settlers, are more full and better preserved than 
the like records of most of our older towns, and the information 
they furnish upon this subject is invaluable to such of their descend- 
ants as are interested in preserving the pedigree of their families. 
It has been the aim of the compiler to exhibit a faithful and accu- 
rate transcript of these family lists in a condensed and methodical 
form, and in such way as would be most convenient to the enquirer, 
without the toilsome and often fruitless task of a search through 
the hundreds of pages of the original documents. 

The whole number of family registers embraced in these lists, is 
337, — the aggregate number of births in them, 2161, — making an 
average of nearly six and one half to each family, exclusive of such 
births as may have been omitted in the records. 

In thirteen of these families as here presented there was but one 
birth each ; in twenty-four of them but two each ; in thirty-six of 
them but three each ; in thirty-four but four each ; in thirty-four 
others, five each ; in forty-two of them, six each ; in thirty-six of 
them, seven each ; in twenty-seven,. eight each ; in thirty-four, nine 
each ; in twenty, ten each ; in fifteen, eleven each ; in six, twelve 
each ; in five, thirteen each ; in eight, fourteen each ; in two, fifteen 
each ; and in one, sixteen. 



BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. 



Abbot, Capt. Benjamin* and Elizabeth. 

Benjamin, born April 13, 1749. 

Elizabeth, " Feb. 22, 1751. 

Samuel, " Apr. 15, 1753. 
Mary, born Dec. 31, 1754, died Jan. 2, 1755. 

George, born Dec. 29, 1755- 

Joel, " Dec. 4, 1757. 

Jacob, " Apr. 12, 1760. 

*Died Jan. 5, 1776, a;t. 46. 



Adams:, William, Jiin., and Esther. 



Esther, 


born Apr. 


lo, 


.7S4 


Mary, 


" Aug. 


I, 


:7S6 


William, 


" June 


3. 


.7S7 


Levi, 


" Jan. 


22, 


17S9 


Sarah, 


" Jan. 


s, 


1 791 


Samuel, 


•' Jan. 


s. 


'793 


John, 


" Jan. 


9. 


■795 


Lucy, 


" Aug-. 


14. 


1797 



3^4 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



Abbot, Benjamin, Jun., ;md Sarah 

^VIllGHT. 



Benjamin, 
Daniel, 
Jacob, 
Sarah, 

Tiniotliy W., 
Stephen, 
Betsey, 
Abigail, 
Benjamin, 
John, 
Abial, 



born Dee. i, 177S, d 

" Aug. 2$, T7S0. 

" Oct. 4, 17S3. 

" .Tul.v 3, 17SS- 

" May 4, 17SS. 

" Dec. 15, 1790. 

" June 23, 1793. 

" J;in. 9, 1796. 

" Oct. 22, iSoo. 

'■ July 2, 1S03. 

" Dec. 29, 1807. 



Abbot, George and N.\omi Tuttle. 
Married Dec. 29, 17S4. 

born Oct. 17, 17SS. 



George, 

Naomi, 

Betsey, 

Polly, 

William, 

Harriet, 



Feb. I, 1790. 
Jan. 1 1, 1792. 
Mar. u, 1796. 
June 14, 179S. 
July 21, 1S02. 



AdaiM.s, William* and Mary Spear. 



Married May 39, 1744. 



Mary, 

Lydia, 

Martha, 

Lucy, 

Sarah, 

William, 



born Oct. 31, 1745. 
" Oct. 14, 1747. 
" June 2S, 1749. 
" Aug. 17, 1751. 
" Feb. 19, 1754. 
" Apr. 15, 1756. 





*Died Au 


g-3. I 


7S7 


, .net. ^ 


9- 




Ames, Ensign Stephen 


an 


d Jane Robbins. 




Marriec 


Apr. 


14 


'731- 






Jane, 




bo 


rn 


Dec. 


6. 


1733- 


Hannah, 






" 


A])r. 


2S, 


1737- 


Stephen, 






" 


Mar 


4. 


1739- 


Elizabeth 






" 


Feb. 


10, 


1742. 


Rachel, 






" 


Dec. 


12, 


1744. 


Jonathan, 






" 


Apr. 


II. 


'747- 


David, 






'* 


May 


30, 


1749. 


Ames, J 


jnathan 


and Frances 


Powers. 




Married Nov. 


II. 


1772. 







Frances, 
Jonathan, 
Anna, 



born Sept. 5, 1773. 

" July ^3. 1775- 

" Dec. I, 1776. 



Ames, Ensign Jeremiah and Jane. 
Jane, born Sept. 28, 1770. 



Ames, Burpee* and Grace Whiting. 

Married May 28, 1782. 
Burpee, Jun., born Nov. 14,1782. 

Ames, Burpee and Hannah Cumings. 

Married April 4, 17S4. 
Jeremiah, born Oct. 25, 17S4. 

William, " Mar. 3, 1786. 

Betsey, " June 9, 1787. 

Nathan, " Oct. 29, 17SS. 

Poole, " Feb. 12, 1791, d. 

Joseph, " Feb. 29, 1793, d. 

Mary, " April 13, 1795. 

Joseph, " April 10, 1797. 

*Died Nov. iS, 1S36, xt. 78. 



AsTiN, Thom.\s and Beulah. 



Ruth, 

Phineas, 

Thomas, 

Ebenozer, 

Beulah, 

Rebecca, 

Mary, 

Jacob, 

Abner, 

Sarah, 



born Sept. 27, 1752 

" Jan. 2S, 17SS 

" July II, 1758. 

" Aug. 16, 1760, 

" Nov. 16, 1762 

" April 16, 1765 

" Aug. iS, 1767 

" April 6, 1770 

" Aug. 26, 1773 

" Jan. 26, 1775 



AsTiN, John and .S.\r.\h Hastings. 
Married Jan. i, 1756. 



Sarah, 

John, 

Andrew, 

Mary, 

Martha, 

Benjamin, 

Aaron, 

Eldad, 

Andrew, 



born April" 3, 1757. 

" July 39, 1758. 

" Dec. 10, 1759, d. 

" June 12, 1761' 

" Mar. I, 1763. 

" Jan. 25, 1765. 

" July 19, 1766. 

" April 29, 1768. 

" April 12, 1770. 



AsTiN, Benj.\min and Betty Farley. 
Married Nov. 24, 176S. 



Betty, 

Benjamin, 

Stephen, 



born Mar. 22, 1770. 
" July 22, 1773. 
" Sept. 2, 1775. 



Atwell, John and Bridgett Cumings. 7 
Married, Nov. 13, 1760. 



John, Jun., 
William C, 
Nathan, 
Jonathan, 



born June 6, 1761. 
" May 7, 1763. 
" June 15, 1766. 
" Feb. 31, 1768. 



FAMILY RECxISTERS. 



365 



Bridget, 
Ebenezer, 
Josiah R., 
James, 
Becca, 



born May 34, 1770 
" Nov. 22, 1772 
" Mar. 27, 177s 
" Feb. 3, 1777 
" Jan. 28, 17S7 



Ball, Ebenezer and Sarah. 



Ebenezer, 

Nathaniel, 

Sarah, 

William, 

Mehitable, 

John, 

Lucy, 



born Feb. 26, 1749- 
" Jan. 24, 1751. 

" May 26, 1753. 
" April 13, 1755. 
" Aug-. 3, 1757. 
" J^m- 7. 1759- 



Ball, Ebenezer, Jun., and Elizabeth 
Davis. 



Married Oct. iS, 1770. 



Ebenezer, 

Elizabeth, 

Abigail, 

Daniel, 

Sarah, 

David, 

Lucy, 

Phineas, ) 

Prudence, ) 



born Oct. 14, 1771. 

" Nov. 7, 1773. 

" Nov. 12, 1775. 

" Mar. 12, 1777. 

" Dec. 12, 1779. 

" Sept. 14, 17S2. 

" July 22, 1785. 

" July 24, 1788. 



B,\LL, Eleazer and Mary. 

Eleazer, born Jan. 12, 1770. 

Mary, " Dec. 3, 1771. 

Submit, born Mar. 27, 1777, d. Oct. 30, 17S1. 

Samuel, " Sept. 2S, 1779. 

Levissa, *' June 26, 17S1. 



Ball, John and Mollv Chamberlain 
Married April 24, 1782. 

born Jan. 21, 1783 



Molly, 

Sarah, 

John, 

Lucy, 

Submit, 

Jesse, 

Ebenezer, 

Submit, 

Samuel, 

Calvin, 

Lucretia, 



March 3, 1785 
April 21, 17S8 
Jan. 24, 1790 
May 23, 1792 
Nov. 16, 1794 
May II, 1796, 
April 10, 1798 
Aug. 10, j8oo 
July, 1802 
April 7, 1804 



Ball, William and Elizabeth Colburn. 

Married Feb. 9, 1781. 
William, born Nov. 23, 1781, d. 



Ball, William* and Rebecca Kinmkv. 



Married Dec. 7, 1786. 



Abel, 

Amos, 

Rebecca, 

Abel, 

Margaret, 

James, 

Hannah, 



born Sept. S, 1787, d. 

" Nov. 15, 1789. 

" April I, 1791. 

" March 2, 1794. 

" July 9. 1796- 

" Ju'y 4. 1799- 

" Nov. 15, 1804. 



*Died Jan. 25, 1832, a;t. 76. 



William, 



Dec. 23, 1782. 



Barron, Samuel and Sally Lund. 
Married Jan. 24, 1793. 



Sally, 
Alice, 
Samuel 



born Nov. 29, 1793. 
" June S, 1796. 
" Sept. 4, 1799. 



Barton, Henry* and Sarah. 
Sarah, born Oct. 3, 1734. 

Mary, " Jan. 6, 1736. 

*Died April 20, 1760, a;t. 54. 



Bayley, Daniel* and R^bekah. 
Joel, born Dec. 11, 1751 

" Jan. 4, 1754 



Andrew, 

Daniel, 

Joanna, 

Rebecca, 

Sarah, 

Aaron, 

Mary, 



Dec. 8, 17SS 
Jan. 30, 1758. 
July 24, 1760 
May 21, 1763 
June 38, 1765 
Nov. 16, 1768 



''Died Jan. 15, 1798, a;t. 69. 



Baylby, Rich.\rd and Hannah Shattuck. 



Hannah, 
Eleazer, 
Daniel, 
Job, 



born .May 27, 1778. 
" Feb. 30, 1779. 
" July I, 1781. 
" Aug. 5, 17S2. 



Bayley, Joseph and Abigail. 



Spencer, 

Samuel, 

Abigail, 

Joseph, 

Elizabeth, 

Nathaniel, 

Dolly, 



born Feb. 2, 


I77S- 


" Sept. 7, 


1776. 


" Oct. 14, 


1779- 


" Dec. S, 


1781. 


" Aug. 26, 


17S4. 


" Dec. 24, 


1786. 


" Feb. 21, 


1789. 



Bayley, Timothy and Hannah. 



Hannah, 
Isaac, 



born Feb. 22, 1776. 
" July S. 1777- 



366 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



Timotliy, 
Susannivli, 
John, 
Leonard, 



born Jan. 13, 17S0. 

" Ffb. 6, 178^. 

" July 7. 1784- 

" June 19, 17S7. 



Bayley, Daniel,* Jnn., and Elizabeth 
French. 



Married Mar. 4, 17S4. 

Elizabeth, born Sept. 25, 17S4 

Rebecca, " July 12, 1786, 

Lydia, " April 21, 1789 

Daniel, " Dec. 31, 1793 

Mary, " Aug. 28, 1797 

*Died Mar. 13, 1S47, a;t. 91. 



Bennet, Phineas and Mary'. 



Elijah, 

Tabitha, 

Elizabeth, twin, 

Ephraim, " 

Ithamar, 

Mary, 

Ephraim, 



born Mar. 24, 1753. 

" Aug. 2, 1756. 

" May 3, 1758. 

" May 3, 1758, d. 

" Aug. 31, 1759. 

" Feb. 10, 1762. 

" April 13, 1765. 



Bennett, Phine.\s, Jun., and Elizabeth. 



Ede, 

Elizabeth, 

Ezra, 



born Sept. 7, 17S0. 
" Nov. 3, 1782. 
" Nov. 21, 1784. 



Blanchard, Jo,shu.\ and Sarah Burge. 



Saiah, 

Joshua, 

David, 

Molly, 

John, 

Lucy, 



^Married Sept., 1747. 

born Nov. 
" Oct. 
" Nov. 
" Aug. 
" Sept. 
" June 



8, 174S. 
21, 1750. 
10, 1752. 
SO. 1754- 
ID, 1757- 

4, 1760. 



Blanchard, Benj. and Kezia Hastings. 



Married Dec. 31, 1744. 



Benjamin, 

Kezia, 

Abial, 

Jonathan, 

Abial, 

Isaac, 

Dorcas, 

Peter, 

Dorcas, 

Joel, 



born Nov. 15, 1745. 

" Mar. 26, 1747. 

" J;"i- 9> '749, '1 

" June 28, 1750. 

" Dec. I, 1751. 

" April 14, 1753. 

" Feb. 25, 175s, d. 

" Aug. 17, 1756. 

" Feb. 25, 1757. 

" Aug. 27, 1759. 



Abel, 

Reuben, 

Betty, 

Simon, 



born Feb. 17, 1761. 
" Feb. I, 1763. 
" Jan. 21, 1765. 
" April 10, 1766. 



Blanchard, Jacoh and Rebekaii 
Lawrence. 



Jacob, 
Jacoh, 



born Aug. 9, 1750, d, 
" Feb. 16, 1753. 



Blanchard, Joshua Jun., and LucY' French, 

Married Feb. 16, 1775. 
Joshua M., born July 26, 1775. 



Blood, JosiAH and S.\rah. 



Josiah, 

Ebenezer, 

Solomon, 

Sarah, 

Caleb, 

Jacob, 

Elizabeth, 



born July 18, 1743 

" May 26, 174S 

" April 17, 1747 

" May ig, 1750, 

" May 21, 1752 

" July 24, 1762 

" Mar. 27, 1766 



Blood, Nathaniel* and Sarah. 



Nathaniel, 

Daniel, 

Sarah, 

Nathan, 

Francis, 

William, 

Timothy, 



orn Mar. 


23, 


1741 


" Mar. 


4. 


1743 


" Mar. 


18, 


'74,'; 


" April 


4, 


1747 


" June 


16, 


1749 


" Nov. 


12, 


I7.SI 


" Oct. 


"S, 


'754 



*Died Nov. 11, 17S2 



Blood, E 


lnathan 


ar 


d Elizabeth Boynt 


o> 




M 


irried Nov 


26, 


1741. 






Elizabeth 










born Oct. 


20, 1742 


d 


EInathan, 










" 


Dec. 


4, '744 




Elizabeth 










" 


May 


22, 1747 




Daniel, 












July 


23, '749 




Jonas, 












Oct. 


2S. '75' 




Abel, 












July 


'3- '754 




Caty, 












Oct. 


20, 1760 




Mehitabel 












Mar. 


', '76s 





Blood, Daniel and Priscilla. 

Molly, born May 9, 1767. 

Sarah, " July 24, 1769. 

Daniel, " Feb. 2i>, 1771. 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



367 



Blood, Eimiraim and Mary. 



Reuben, 

Amos, 

Ephniini, 

David, 

Enoch, 

Marv, 



born Aug. 10, 1761 
" Mar. 10, 1763 
" April 2?, 1764 
" Dec 15, 1765 
1769 
" Sept. n, 1771 



Blood, Fkancis and Abigail Conroy. 
Married Dec. 12, 176S. 



Abigail, 

Hannali, 

Francis, 

Sarah, 

Polly, 

Francis, 

Eliz.-ibeth, 

Nathan, 

Daniel, 



born Aug. 25, 17139 

" I^ov. 12, 1771 

" Feb. 15, 1774 

" May 10, 1776, 

" Feb. 21, 1778, 

" Jan. 30. 17S0 

" Jan. S, 1783 

" Jan. 26, 17S4 

" Mar. 27, 17S7 



Blood, Solomon* and Priscilla' French. 
Married Jan. 5, 1769. 



Solomon. 
Sarah, 
Toseph, ) 
Mary, ' 



born Oct. 7, 1769. 
" Dec. 22, 1771. 



Blood, Daniel, 2d, and Sarah. 



Sarah, 
Daniel, 

MighiU, 
Sarah, 



born Jan. 4, 1775, d. 

" Feb. s, 1776. 

" Dec. 13, 1777. 

" Sept. iS, 1779. 



Blood, Elnatilvn, Jan., and Deborah 
Phelps. 



Married June 5, 1766. 



Nathan, 

Rebekah, 

Elizabeth, 

Hannah, 

Martha, 



born F'eb. 9, 177S 
" May 14, 1780 
" June- 6, 1783 
" Aug. S, 17S5 
" April 6, 17S9 



Blood, J vcoB* and Rachel. 



Elizabeth 
Sus.annah 
Rachel, ) 
Rhoda, ( 
Nancy, 
Sarah, 



born Aug. 14, 17S5 
" Aug. 2S, 17S6 



twins. 



" April 14, 17SS 

" Aug. 27, 1790 
" Dec. II, 1791 

*Died Sept. 11, iSoo, a^t. 38. 
Blood, Abel and Sarah. 



*Died Dec 


6, iSo2, let. 5;; 






Blood 


Josi.vii* and Abigail Pierce. 




Married 


May 24, 1770. 






Joel, 




born Blare 


1 7- 


1 771. 


Mary, 




" July 


10, 


1773- 


Ebenczer, 




" Mar. 


iv 


1775- 


Josiah, 




" Apr. 


33. 


'777- 


Sarah, 




" April 


I, 


'779- 


Anna, 




" Apri 


23- 


!7S3- 


Blood, Josiah 


and Sar.aii F 


rench. 


Benjamin 




born Mar. 


16, 


1789. 


Abigail, 




" Apri 


.i. 


1791. 


Luther, 




" Mar. 


3>, 


1793- 


A ma, 




" Apr. 


14. 


'797- 




*Died Jan 


. IS, iSi6, a;t. 73. 




Blood, 


Nathan* 


and Elizabeth N 


oyes. 




Married 


April 16, 1772. 






Nathan, 




born Apri 


11. 


1773- 


Elizabeth 


*Kil!ed 


" Feb. 
June 17, 1775. 


I3- 


■77S- 



Mehitable 
Abel, 



born Dec. 11, 1788. 
" May S. 1791. 



Blood, Solomon, Jun., and Hannah 

Kinney. 

Married June 9, 1794. 



Hannah, 






bo 


rn Nov. 28, 


I79S- 


Sukey, 








" Sept. 3, 


1798. 


Boynton 


JOS^HUA* 


and Martha. 


Joshua, 






born Nov. 28, 


1743- 


Martha, 








" Aug. 29, 


>74S- 


Benjamin, 








" Feb. 21, 


>747- 


Mary, 








" June 10, 


1749. 


Amos, 








" June II, 


175'- 


Sarah, 








" July 12, 


I7S3- 


Elias, 








" Feb. 24, 


'7SS- 


Elizabeth, 








" April 4, 


17S7- 




*Died Feb 


4 


'763- 





BoY'NTON, John, Jun., and Lytjia Jewett. 

M.irried May 17, 1745. 



Margaret, 

[emima, 

Samuoi, 



born Dec. 6, 1745. 
" Nov. 10, 1747. 
" Mar. 20, 1750. 



368 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



Lydia, 

John, 

Isaac, 

Balo, 

Sarah, 

Joel, 



born Sept. 12, 1751. 
" Oct. iS, 1753. 
" April 3, 1755. 
" Sept. 26, 1756. 
" Dec. 26, 1757. 
" Mar. 22, 1759. 



BoYNTON, Dea. John* and Ruth Jewett. 

Jeremiah, born April 29, 1753 

John, " Aug. ]i, 1754 

Jacob, " Dec. 12, 1756 

Ruth, " Sept. 10, 1758, 

Mehitable, " Jan. 21, 1761 

Moses, " Sept. 25, 1763 

Rebekah, " Nov. 20, 1765 
*Died Oct. 29, 17S7, xt. 67. 



BoYNTON, Benjamin and Deborah Parker. 

Married Nov. 5, 177S. 
Sarah, born May 29, 1779. 

Deborah, " July 33, 17S1. 

Benjamin, " Dec. 21, 17S3, d. 

Benjamin, " Aug. 4, 17S6. 

Martha, " Oct. 12, 17SS. 

BoYNTON, Joshua, Jun., and Mary' P.^rker. 

Married May 26, 177S. 
Mary, born May 14, 17S4. 

Joshua, " Mar. 19, 17S6. 

Josiah, " Dec. 33, 17S7. 

Samuel, " Aug. 9, 17S9. 



BoYNTON, Moses and Hannah Lund. 

Hannah, 

Moses, 

Rebekah, 

Sarah, 

Naomi, 

Mary, 

Lucy, 

John, 

Eliza, 

Jacob, 



born Feb. 


2, 


1 70s 


" Mar. 


3, 


179S 


" Apri 


,S' 


iSoi 


" Mav 


20, 


1S03 


" J"iy 


14. 


iSos 


" July 


IS. 


1S07 


" Apri 


i>, 


iSio 


" Sept. 


9. 


1S13 


" June 


21, 


1S15 


" Dec. 


17. 


iSiS 



Bradbury, James and Catharine Conant. 

Married May 30, 1795. 

James, born Jan. 4, 179(5 
Catharine, " Mar. 25, 179S. 

William S., " Feb. 14, 1800. 

Charles, " July 4, 1S02 

Elizabeth, " Sept. iS, 1S04, 

Samuel F , " Dec. 25, 1S06 

Josiah C, " Feb. 21, iSog 

Mary Ann, " May 17,1811 



Bradley, Ithamar and Mehitable. 




Nehemiah 




born May 17, 


1779. 


Ezekiel, 




" April 27, 


17S1. 


Mehitable 




" Sept. 8, 


1784. 


Ithamar, 




" June 22, 


1790. 


Brooks, John and Mary Kemp 






Marr 


ed Jan. 5, 1757. 




Mary, 




born Dec. 3, 


I7S7- 


John, 




" Feb. 24, 


1760 




Nathan, 




" Aug. 26, 


1767 




Abigail, 




" Dec. 6, 


1770 




Hannah, 




" Aug. 20, 


1772 




Ruth, 




" Jan. 15, 


1775 




Brooks, Capt. 


William and Abigail 






Kemp. 






Marrie 


d March 29, 1759. 




William, 




born May i, 


1760. 


Abigail, 




" July 19, 


1762 




Betsey, 




" July 33, 


1764 




Sarah, 




" July 6, 


1766 




Isaac, 




" Oct. 28, 


176S 




Marah, 




" Feb. 15, 


1771 




Samuel, 




" Mar. 3, 


■774 




Martha, 




" Aug. 2i, 


1776 




Leonard, 




" Jan. 29, 


1779 




John, 




" Nov. n. 


17S1 




Susannah 




" Feb. 13, 


'7S3 






Brown 


Josiah and Anna. 




Elizabeth 




born Oct. 14, 


1742. 


Anna, 




" Oct. 23, 


1744- 


Josiah, 




" Sept. 24, 


1746, d. 


Mollv, 




" Sept. 4, 


1748. 


Joseph, 




" Nov. S, 


1750. 


Olive, 




" Nov. 1, 


1752- 


Susannah 




" Aug. 20, 


1754- 


Sarah, 




" Jan. 3, 


1757- 


Josiah, 




" Jan. 31, 


I7S9- 


Brown, Samuel and Mary Glene. 




Marrit 


d March 26, 1756. 




Mary, 




born Jan. 1, 


1757- 


William, 




" Nov. 13, 


1758, d. 


Hannah, 




" Nov. 13, 


1760. 


Brown 


Samuel and Mary Wheeler. 




Vlarriec 


January 32, 1761. 




Bridget, 




born Dec. 31 


1761. 


Samuel, 




" Jan. 11, 


1764. 


William, 




" Jan. 4, 


1766 





FAMILY REGISTERS. 



3^9^ 



IJrown, John* and Kezia Wheeler. 
Married Oct. 9, 1744. 

born Aug. 11, 1745 
" Jan. 27, 1747 



Silas, 

John, 

Kezia, 

Abigail, 

Phineas, 

Rebekah, 

Elizabeth, 

Martha, 

Sarah, 



Dec. 23, 1749. 

June 10, 1754 

Nov. 14, 1756. 

Sept. 21, 1758 

Sept. 10, 1760 

April S, 1762 

Mar. 24, 1764 



♦Died May 6, 1770, aet. 43. 



Brown, D.wid and Rebek.vh. 
Rebekali, horn Dec. 13, 1769. 

David, " April 4, 1773. 



Brown, Willi.\m and Elizabeth Nevin 
William, born Mar, 

Betsey, " Oct. 

Sukey, " Nov. 

Nathan, " Aug 

Lucinda, " Sept 



II, 1790. 
8, 1 791 

5. 179s 
22, 179S 
II, 1801 



BuRGK, Ephraim* and Anna Abbot. 
Married Jan. 7, 1762. 



.\nna, 

Ephraim, 

JosiaJi, 

Jacob, 

Susannah, 

Susannah, 

.\bial, 

Sarah, 

Samuel, 

Benjamin, 



born Nov. 20, 1762. 

" June 7, 17O4. 

■' April 15, 1766. 

■' Jan. 7, 1768. 

• Dec. 

•' July 

" May 

" May 

•' Mar. 

" Aug. 



S, 1769, d. 
■21. '773- 
•i?. '775- 

■'< 1777- 
23, 1779. 

S. 1782. 



*Died July 21, 1784, set. 46. 

BuRGE, Dea. Ephraim* and Patty Baldwin. 

.Married Jan. 28, 1793. 
Ephraim, born Nor. S, 1794. 

Patty, •' May 9, 1796. 

Anna, •' July 13, 179S. 

Clarissa, 

iCyrus, " Sept. 7, 1804. 

Emma, " Nov. 5, 1807. 

*Died March 3, 1843, set. 78. 

BuKPEi, Nathaniel and Ruth. 
Nabby, born June 5,1780. 

Sally, •' Jan. ji, 17S3. 

Nathaniel, " Nov. S, 1785. 

Benjamin D.. •' Dec. 30, 17S8. 

(26) 



Carter, Edward and Mary. 



Mary, 

Elizabeth, 

Susannah, 

Thomas, 

Sarah, 



born Nov. 


'9. 


i/S'- 


" Mar. 


12, 


i7.';4- 


" June 


6, 


1756- 


" Sept. 


S. 


1758. 


" June 


■5. 


1762. 



Carter, Edward, Jun., and Esther. 

Esther, 

Caty, 

Isaac P., 

Mary, 

Betsey, 

Edward, 

Thomas, 

Susannah, 

Jonathan, 

Loainmi, 



born Nov. 


8, 


1766. 


" July 


8, 


176S. 


" April 


27. 


1770. 


" May 


27. 


1772- 


" Sept. 


30. 


1773 


" Aug. 


8, 


>77S- 


" July 


i3> 


1777- 


" Oct. 


'3, 


1779- 


•' Mar. 


24, 


1782. 


" Dec. 


21, 


1784. 



Clark, Elijah and Martha Runnells, 
Married April 9, 1778. 
Hannah, born Mar. 6, 1779- 

Elijah, " Mar. 18, 17S1. 

Martha, " Feb. 19, 17S6. 

John R., •' Dec. 14, 17S9. 



Colburn, Lieut. Robert* and Elizabeth 
Smith. 
Married 1747. 
Robert, born April 9, 174S. 

Elizabeth. " Oct. 22, 1749, d- 

Benjamiu, 
Natlian, 
Benjamin, 
Peter, 
Elizabeth, 
Lucy, 
Anna, 



" May II, 


1 75 1, d. 


" Nov. 6, 


1753- 


" May s, 


'755- 


" Nov. 14, 


175''- 


•' April 27, 


1759- 


" Jan. 12, 


1761. 


" Nov. 27, 


1763- 


17S3, oet. 66.- 





Colbur**, William* and Abigail. 



Isabel, 
Paul, 

William, 



born Aug. 16, 1758- 
" Oct. 4, 1761- 
" Jun« S, 1764. 



""Died April 3, 1789, a-t. 79. 



CoLBUKN, Thomas and Esther Flagg. 
Married Sept. 15, 1757. 

born 1759- 



James, 
Ruth, 
John, 
Thomas 



June 12, 1763. 
Sept. 14, 1765. 
Nov. I, 1767. 



370 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



CoLBURN, Robert, Jun., and Dorcas. 



Dorcas, 
Robert, 
Peter, 

Timothy, 

Hannah, 

Anna, 

Elizabeth, 

Washington, 

"VV'illiam, 



born Oct. la, 1773. 

" April 4. 1775- 

" Oct. 3:, T776. 

" Aug. 10, 177s. 

" April ID, 17S0. 

" Aug. 31, 17S1. 

" Jan. 16, 17S3. 

" April 30, 17S6. 

" March 3. 17S9. 



COLBURN, P.\LL anil Meiiitable. 
Mehitable, born Aug. 16, 17S2. 

Elizabeth, " Jan. 



1784. 



CoLBiKN, Benjamin and E>ther. 

Esther, born May 39. 1779. 

Mary, " May 5, 17S3. 

Lucy, " Feb. ic, 17S5. 

Elizabeth, " June 2^, 17S7. 

Mehitablc, " May 16, 17S0. 

Hannah, " Mar. 31, 1791. 

Joseph, " May 30, 1793. 

John, " Jan. 34, 1795. 

Elias, " Feb. 15, 1797, d. 

Elias, " Oct. 15, iSoo. 



'CoLBLKN, N.VTH.\N*and Abigail Sii.\ttuck. 

Married Jan. 3$, r779. 
Abigail, born Nov. i, I7?3. 

Nathan, " Mar. 31, 17S5. 

Rachel, " Dec. 11,1787. 

Susannah, " Feb. 19, 1790. 

Elizabeth, " Nov. 19, 1791. 

Nathaniel W ., " July 17, 1794. 

Daniel, " Oct. S, 1796. 

*Died Feb. 17, 1831, a-t. 78. 



CoLBURN, James* and Susannah Hardy. 
Married Feb. 14, 17S5. 
James, born Mar. 13, 17S6. 



Susannah, 

Sally, 

Hannah, 

Esther, 

Rutli, 

Sally, 

John, 

Bradlee, 

Amos, 

Mary, 

Almira, 

Louisa, 



" Dec. 30, 17S7. 

" Oct. 7, 17S9, d, 

" Dec. 37, 1791. 

" Feb. 36, 1794. 

" April 34, 1796. 

" May 3, 179S. 

" Aug. 33. 1799. 

" July 38, iSoi. 

" Jan. 13, 1S04. 

" Nov. 30, iSoj. 

" Oct. 38, 1S07. 

" Feb. 6, iSii. 



CoNANT,* Jo.siah and Cath.\rine Emerson. 
Married Feb. 9, 1745. 



Josiah, 
Catharine, 
Catharine, 
Abel. 



born Oct. 17, 1746. 

" Dec. 33. 1748, d. 

" Nov. 13, 1753. 

'' Oct. 3, ms- 



*Died Dec. 14, 1756, ;et. 44. 

CoNANT, Dea. Josi.vii* and Elizabeth 
Elliot. 



Married Jan. 9, 1769. 



losiali. 

Elizabeth, 

Catliarine, 

William, 

Mary, 

Abigail, 

Ruth, 

Elias, 



born Feb. 5, 1770. 

" Nov. 10, 1771. 

" Nov. 38, 1773. 

" Ian. 16, 1776. 

" Ja"' 7. 1778- 

" Aug. 30, 17S0. 

" Dec. 31, 17S3. 

" Se]it. 1785, d 



CoNA.NT, Dea. Josi.^H and Zekviaii Fox. 
Married Dec. 16, 17SS. 



Sar;;h, 

Joseph, 

Elias, 

Hannah, 

Sophia, 

F.li/.abcth, 



>rn Se])t. 34, 17S9 

" J"'y 4. 1791 

" Sept. II, 1793 

" Feb. 39. 1794 

" Feb. 16, I'jc/t 

" July 4, 1800 



*Died August 31, 1807, xi. 



l'ona.s:t, Dea. Abel* and ALvkgaret Jevvett 
Married Nov. 30, 1781. 



Margaret, 
Abel, 
[ames, 
Catharine, 



born Aug. ^o, 1782 
" June I, 17S4. 
" April 7, 17S6. 
" Dec. 39, 1787. 



Con.\nt, Dea. Abel and Lvdia Thurston. 



Susannali, 

Joseph, 

Daniel, 

Lydia, 

Rebekah, 

Moses T., 

John C, 



born May 36, 1791 

" No%'. 34, 1793 

" Dec. II, 1794 

" April 26, 1796 

" Nov. 3.8, 179S 

" Feb. 3, iSoi 

" Jan. 30, 1S03 



*Died May 2, 1844, a;t. 88. 



CoNROV John and Lvdia. 



*Died Feb. 14, 1830, .-ct. 70. 



!<>hn, 
Sarah, 
Lydia, 
Thomas, 



born Dec. 38, 1761. 
" Sept. 13, 1764. 
" Jan. 29, 1766- 
" April 3, 1769. 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



371 



William, 
William, 

Mary, 



born Aug. 3, 1771, cl. 
" Sept. 26, 1775. 
" Nov. 6, 1777. 



CoNROY Samuel and Alice Blood. 
Married Nov. 32, 1774. 

born July 9, 1779. 
" May 27, 17S1. 



Samuel, 
Alice, 
Jonas, 
Martha, 
Sarah, 
David, 



Nov. 7, 17S3. 
Dec. 7, 1785. 
Aug. 23, 1788. 
May 23, 1791. 



CoNROY Stephen and Rebecca Blodgett. 
Married Dec. 13, 1781. 

born Feb. 25, 17S2. 



CuMiNGS, Lieut. John and Rebecca. 



Betsey, 

EuniceJ 

John, 

Rebekah, 

Isaac, 

Oliver B., 



Feb. 13, 17S4. 
June 13, 17S7. 
April 26, 17S9. 
Feb. 9, 1795. 
Aug. 28, 1S02. 



CuMiNGS, Samuel* Esq., and Prudence 
Lawrence. 



Married July iS, 1732. 



Mary, 


born April 22, 


'734- , 


Sibbell, 


" Nov. I, 


>736- 


Prudence, 


" Nov. 26, 


■740. 


Samuel, 


" Dec. 10, 


1742. 


Thomas, 


" Aug. 21, 


.74S. 


Benjamin, 


" Nov. 25, 


1757- 


*D 


ed Jan. iS, 1772, a:t. 63. 




CUMINGS, 


Jerahmael* and Hannah 




Farwell. 




Hannah, 


born July 13, 


'737- 


Henry, 


" Sept. 16, 


1739- 


Jotham, 


" Dec. 29, 


1741. 


Caty, 


" Feb. 38, 


'744- 


Betty, 


" July 17. 


1746. 


*Died Oct. 21, 1747, xt. 36. 





CuMiNGS, Ebenezer* and Elizabeth, 
Abbott. "*" 

Elizabeth, 
Ebenezer, 
Abigail, 
Bridget, 
Lucy, 
Mary, 
Jacob A., 
Sarah, 

*Died 1778. 



born Nov. 


^3. 


'7.i9 


" Sept. 


IS. 


1 761. 


" July 


9. 


1763- 


" June 


16, 


■765- 


" July 


9. 


1767. 


" Oct. 


23. 


1769. 


■' Nov. 


2, 


1772. 


" Feb. 


38, 


'77^ 



Peter, 

Rebecca, 

Sarah, 

John, 

Rebecca, 

Abigail, 

Asahel, 

Henry, 

Benaiah, 



orn Nov. 


12, 


1 761. 


" Mar. 


2, 


P764, d. 


" Oct. 


s. 


1766. 


" Mar. 


8, 


1769. 


" Aug. 


28, 


1771. 


" Feb. 


II) 


1774- 


" Jan. 


13. 


1777- 


" Nov. 


I, 


1779- 


" Mar. 


21, 


17S2. 



CuMiNGS, Samuel Jun. and Lydia Webster 
Married Nov. 3, 176S. 



Lydia, 
Sibbel, 



born Aug. 21, 1769. 
" May 17, 1771. 



Samuel, 


" 


May 30, 


773- 




Prudence, 


** 


Jan. 24, 1 


77S- 


CuMiNGs, Philip and Mary. 




Philip, 


born Sept. 


I, 


770. 


Thomas, 


" 


Aug. 


7i 


1772. 


Edward, 


" 


Nov. 


17. 


774- 


CUMINGS 


WiLLi.\M* and Mehitable > 




Eastman 










Married Jan. 28, 


176S. 






William, 


horn Jan. 


17. 


1760. 


Jonathan, 


" 


Auff. 


2. 


1770 




Daniel, 


" 


July 


6, 


1772 




Leonard, 


" 


April 


19. 


1774 




Caleb E., 


" 


Jan. 


9. 


1776 




Sarah, 


" 


Dec. 


iS, 


1777 




Elizabeth, 


" 


April 


IS. 


17S0 




Molly, 


" 


M.iy 


iS, 


17S2 




Bradley, 


" 


April 


13, 


17S4 




Hannah, 


" 


July 


17. 


1786 




Luther, 


" 


May 


6, 


17S9 




* 


Died Oct. 2, 1S31 


xt. 90. 






CUMINGS, 


Lieut. Benjamin and 


Bridget 




Pool. 










Married Dec. 7 


17S0. 






Benjamin, 


born Aug. 


24, 


1782. 


Btidget, 


" 


Feb. 


3. 


.7S4. 


CUMINGS 


, Lieut. Benjamin an 


d S 


arah 




H olden 








Sarah, 


born June 


7. 


1787. 


Samuel, 


" 


Nov. 


9 


I7S8. 


Thomas, 


" 


Sept. 


iS, 


1790. 


David, 


" 


Oct. 


13. 


■792. 


Phineas, 


« 


Mar. 


IS. 


1795- 


Betsey, 


" 


April 


10, 


1797- 


William, 


" 


April 


25, 


■799 





372 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



CuMiNGS, Thomas and Hannah Pool. 
Married Nov. 17, 1773. 



Hannah, 

Sarah, 

Thomas, 



born April i, 1775. 

1774. 

" Nov. I, 1776. 



Danforth, Jona.* and Anna Blanchard. 
Married May 24, 174,1. 



Anna, 

Jonatlian, 

Pavid, 



horn Feb. 7, 17.44. 

" July 2". '745- 
" Jan. 24, 1747. 



*Died March 3, 1747, xt. 32. 



Danforth, Jonathan, Jun-i and Hannah 



Hannah, 

Jonathan, 

Elizabeth, 

Leonard, 

David, 

Luther, 

Anna, 

Asa, 

Rebecca, 



born May 5, 1770. 

" July 27, 1772. 

" May 10, 1774. 

" April 9, 1777. 

" May 15, 1779. 

" Oct. 23, 17S1. 

" July 19, 17S3. 

" Oct. 14, 17SS. 

" Mar. 23, 17SS. 



Danforth, Jacor and Anna. 



Jacob, 

Timothy, 

Anna, 



born Mar. 30, 1769. 
" June 2, 1771. 
'• M-"-- 9- I77.V 



D WIS, Joshua and Dorothy \\"heeler. 
Married Oct. 22, 1767. 



Simeon, 
Hannah. 



born Mar. 4, 17S4. 
" May 23,1786. 



DiNSMORE, Abraham and LvniA. 



Abraham, 

Zebadiah, 

Lydia, 

Hannah, 

Phebe, 

Tliomas, 



born Jan. 17, 1753. 
" Jan. 17, 1755. 
" Jan. 24, 1757. 
" Mar. 2, 1759. 
" May 17, 1761. 
" Aug. 14, 1763. 



Dow, Capt. Reuben* and Lydia Jones. 



Evan, 

Stephen, 

Lydia, 

Phebe, 

Daniel. 

Lois, 



born F'eb. 4, 1754. 
" Dec. 30, 1757. 
" May iS, 1762. 
" June 22, 1765. 
" Dec. 10, 1769. 
" Ji'ne 24, 1773. 



Dow, Stei'hen* and Abigail Tewett. 
Married June 17, 17S4. 

born Feb. 2, 17S6 
" July 14, 17S7 



Lois, 

.Stephen, 

Hannah, 

Nathaniel, 

Jeremiah, 

Abigail, 

Elizabeth, 

*Died Nov. i. 



April 28, 1790 
Aug. 21, 1792 
Jan. S, 179s 
April 22, 1797 
Dec. 24, iSoo 
, a-t. 82. 



Drury, Lieut. Zedekiah and Hannah 



Gershom, 

Zedekiah, 

Jon.athan, 

Ebenezer, 

Thomas, 

Natlian. 

Hannah, 

Elizabeth, 

Mary, 

David, 

John, 

Samuel, 



born Dec. 31, 1739 
Mar. I, 1742 

Aug. 4, 1743 

April 36, 1747 
Nov. 23, 1748 
Aug. 29, 1750 
Aug. 27, 1752 
Feb. 8, I7S7 
May IS, 1759 
Feb. 28, 1761 
July 10, 1763 



Eastman, Lieut. Amos* and Mehitable 
Bradley. 



Mehitable, 

Jonathan. 

Amos, 

Caleb, 

Sarah, 

Hannah, 



born June 25, I74<5. 
" July 19, 174S. 
" April 28, 1751. 
" Oct. 3, 1753. 
" Mar. 5, 1756. 
" Jan. 6. 1759. 



*Died Feb. 9, i8ii, a;t. Si. 



♦Died March 6, iSoS, X't. 8S. 

Eastman, Jonathan* and Sarah F'letcher. 

Married Sept. 13, 1770. 
Joseph F., born Jan. 14, 1772. 

Jonathan B., " Jan. 8, 1780. 

*Died Dec. 29, 1790, net. 42. 

Eastman, Amos* and Ruth Flagg. 
Married Jan. 6, 1774. 
Ruth, 
Persis, 
Persis, 
Amos, 
Caleb, 
Charles, 
Hannah, 
Alpheus, 
Luke, 

*Died August 2, 1S32, .xt. Si. 



Oct. 


^4. 


1774- 


Dec. 


1, 


1775. d- 


Oct. 


27. 


1776. 


Aug. 


4. 


1778. 


May 


4. 


17S0. 


Feb. 


4. 


1782. 


June 


2.S. 


1783- 


Oct. 


9, 


1787. 


June 


22, 


1790. 



FAMILY REOrSTERS. 



373 



3EMKRSON, R 


ev. Daniel* and Hannah 






Emerson. 




Married Nov. 7, 1744- 


Hannah, 




born Sept. 30, 1745- 


Daniel, 




" Dec. 15, 1746. 


Mary, 




" Sept. 19. 1748, d. 


Peter, 




" Nov. 7, 1749. 


Lucy, 




" Oct. 29, 1751 




Mary, 




" Nov. 14, 1753 




Klizabeth 




" May S, I7SS 




Ebenezer, 




" Aug:. 14. I7S7 




Joseph, 




" Sept. 2S, 1759 




Ralph, 




" Mar. 4, 1761 




Rebecca, 




" July 5. «762 




Samuel, 




" Sept. 6, 1764 




William, 




" Dec. II, 1765 




♦Died 


Sept. 30, iSoi, St. 85. 


Emerson 


Dea 


Daniel* and Ama Fletcher 




Married Nov. 17, 176S. 


Ama, 




born Aug. 20, 1769. | 


Daniel, 




" July IS. 1771 




Hannah, 




" Dec. 7, 1775 




Joseph, 




" Oct. 13, 1777 




Ralph, 




" Aug. iS, 17S7 




Samuel, 








William, 


twins, " Nov. 9, 1791. 




*Died Oct. 4. 1S20, st. 74. 


Emerson, Thomas and Judith. 


James, 




born Aug. 7, 1770. | 


Thomas, 




" Nov. 27. 1774 




W^illiani, 




" Mar. 28, 1777 




Daniel, 




" June 12, 17S0 




John S., 




" Aug. 12, 17S3 




Asa, 




" Sept. 20, 17S5 




Emerson, 


Timothy and Huldah. 


Timothy, 




born Dec. 11, 1776. 


Aaron, 




" June 1 1, 1779. 


Stephen, 




" Mar. 29, 17S1. 


Huldah, 




" April I, 1783. 


Jesse, 




" May 15,1785- 


Emerson, 


Dr. Peter* and Molly. 


Susannah, 




born Dec. 10, 17S1. 


Rebecca, 




" May 29, 17S4. 


Mary, 




" June 7, 1786. 


Daniel, 




" Sept. 16, 17SS. 


Hannah, 




" June 25, 1 791. 


John, 




" April 7, 179S. 




* 


Died 1S27, a;t. 78. 


1 



Emerson, Ralph* and Alice Ambs. 
Married May 13, 17S4. 



Elizabeth, 
Alice, 



born Jan. 27, 1785. 
" Oct. 4, 1790. 



♦Died Oct. 4, 1790, a;t. 29. 



Easterbrook, Joseph and Lydia. 



Mary, 
Elizabeth, 
Lydia, 
Joseph, 



born April 20, 1751. 
" Nov. 2, 1753. 
" Jan. 24. 1761. 
" Mar. 28, 1764. 



Farley, Lieut. Samuel and Hannah 
Brown. 



Married Oct. 9, 1744. 



Ebenezer, 

Samuel, 

Hannah, 

Benjamin, 

Anna, 



born Oct. 9, 1745 

" Mar. 14, 1747 

" Jan. 27, 1749 

" Mar. II, 1756 

" Feb. 19, 1768 



F.\RLEY, Lieut. Benjamin* and Joanna 
Page. 



Joanna, 

Rebecca, 

Benjamin, 

Molly, 

Betty. 

Lucy, 

Ebenezer, 

Hannah, 

Christopher, 

Stephen, 

Hannah, 

Sarah, 



born April 21, 1733 

" April 29, 1735 

" June 21, 1737 

" Nov. 25, 1739 

" June 23, 1742 

" Feb. 13, 1744 

" Sept. 19, 1747 

" Feb. 8, 1750, 

" April I, 1751 

" Jan. 28, 1754 

" Jan- 31. 1757 

" Sept. 28, 1761 



*Died Dec. 23, 17S9, a:t. 79. 



Farley, Capt. Caleb* and ELiz.\BETit 
Farley. 



Elizabeth, 

Joseph, 

Caleb, 

James, 

Benjamin, 

John, 

Thomas, 

Abel, 



born Aug. 24, 1755 

" May 1,1757 

" April 3, 1759 

" April 12, 1761 

" June 27, 1763 

" May 1765 

" Dec. 28, 1769 

" July '7. '773 



*Died April 5, 1S33, ret. 102 years, 5 mo. 



374 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



Farley, Ebenezer* :ind Betty Wheeler. 



Married Nov. 6, 1766. 



Beiijaniin, 
Lucy, 
Joanna, 
Betty, 
Ebenezer, 
Hannah, 
John, 
Daniel, 
Jesse, 
Sarah, 
Rebecca, 
Susannah, 
James, 



orn Feb. 


I, 


1707. 


" Sept. 


3. 


176S. 


" Mar. 


23, 


1770. 


" Mar. 


iS, 


1773. 


" Mar. 


4. 


1774- 


" Dec. 


I, 


I77S- 


" Dec. 


13. 


1777- 


" Oct. 


2S, 


■779- 


" June 


36, 


17S1. 


" Apri 


23. 


'7S3- 


" Dec. 


13. 


17S4 


" Feb. 


4. 


17S7. 


" May 


■21) 


1791 



"Died Jan. 28, 1S27, a;t. So. 



Farley, Chklstopher* and Rltii Jewett. 
>Lirried Dec. 30, 1773. 



Ruth, 
Amos, 

Christopher P., 
Susannah, 
James J., 
James J., 
Elizabeth, 
Christopher, 



born Sept. 19, 1774. 

" June 6, 1776. 

" Jan- 30. 1778. 

" Jan. 9, 17S0. 

" May 4, 17S2, d. 

" Jan. 12, 17S4. 

" July 28, 17S6. 

" Oct. S, 17SS. 



Abigail, 


born July 2js, I'jSO- 


William, 


" Oct. 21, 1787- 


Nathan, 


" Mar. 16, 17S9. 


Henry, 


" July 9, 1790. 


Elizabeth, 


" Sept. 14, 1791, d-- 


Isaac, 


" Feb. 15, 1793. 


Lucy, 


" April 16, 1794. 


Hannah, 


" July 17. '795- 


Sukey, 


" Dec. 2, 1796. 


Elizabeth, 


" Oct. 10, 1799. 


Oilman, 


" Jan. 13, 1S02. 


Farley, Lieut 


Benjamin and Maf.\ 


B 


lodgett. 


Marri 


.■d Feb. 15, 17S7. 


Mary, 


born July 27, 1785'- 


Benjamin, 


" May 3, 1790. 


Sarah, 


" May 5, 1793, 0, 


Noah, 


" Apr. 13, 1794, d- 


Leonard, 


" Sept. 23, 1796, d. 


Charlotte, 


" Oct. 22, 1797- 


Noah, 


" Feb. 10, iSoo. 


Abel, 


" Sept. 19, iSo2„ 


Leonard W., 


" Aug. 9, 1S05- 


Sarah, 


" Aug. II, 1S07. 


Caleb, 


" July 16, iSii. 


Farley, Benjamin and Lvcy Fletche». 



*Died June 21, 17SS, X't. 37. 



Farley, Josefii and Bridget Powers. 
Married Dec. iS, 1777. 
Bridget, born Mar. 4, 1778. 



Joseph, 



Feb. 7, 1780. 



Farley, Stephen* and M.\ry Shattuck 

Married Jan. 28, 1779. 

Stephen, 

Mary, 

Isaac, 



Elizabeth, twin, 1 
Joanna, " d., ) 

Hannah, 
Christopher, 
Joanna, 



born Oct. 24, 1779 
" Aug. 13, 17S1 
" Aug. 21, 17S3 

■' Sept. iS, 1 785 

1787 
" Oct. 19, 17S9 
" Aug. 10, 179! 



*Died Jan. 13, 1837, xt. 84. 



Farley, Caleb, Jun., and Abigail Phelp; 
Married April 12, 17S1. 



Caleb, 
James, 
John, 



born April 15, 17S2. 
" Sept. 27, 17S3. 
" Feb. 15, 1785. 



Married June 18, 17S0 

Sarah, / 

twins, 
Betsey, \ 

Benjamin Mark, 



born June 



Lucy, 

Luther, 

Charles, 

Benjamin, 

George Frederic, 

Percy, 

Clarissa, 



Aug. 8, 1783. 
Dec. 26, 17S4- 
Dec. 25, 17S6.. 
Oct. 13, 17SS. 
Feb. 20, 1 791, • 
Apr. S, 1793. 
Sept. 13, 179S. 
Nov. 12, iSoi. 



Farley, Benj., Jun., and Anna Merrili- 



Benjamin, 

Anna, 

Polly, 

Rebckah, 

Enoch, 

Lucy, 

Merrill, 

Edward P. 



born Oct. 3, 17S9- 

" June 30, 179!. 

" Feb. iS, 1794. 

" Aug. 17, 1796. 

" July 22, 179S. 

" Oct. iS, iSo3> 

" May 0, 1806- 

" Dec. 26, 1808, 



Farmer, Minot* and Abigail Barrok, 

Married Sept. 15, 1775. 
Abigail, born Dec. i, 1775. 

■^Died May lo, 1776, xt. 26. 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



375 



Fi.sk, Lieut. Amos and Eliz.\betu Fl.vgg. 
M.irried March iS, 1762. 



ScUy. 

Hannah, 

Sarah, 



born Jan. 17, 1763. 
" J:i". 21, 1765. 
" Apr. 7, 1767. 



FrsK, Josi.vir and Mary C.vldwell. 
Married Nov. 35, 1779. 
Josiah, born Nov. 14, 17S1. 

Fletcher, Oliver and Tabith.a.. 



Thankful, 

Sibbel, 

Tabitha, 

Betty, 

Stephen, 

Rebecca, 



born July iS, I7t56, 

" Jan. 15, 176S 

" Feb. 5, 1770, 

" Feb. 3, 1772 

" Dec. 1, 1773 

" Oct. 19, 177s 



P'l.vgg, Eleazer* and Hannah. 



Fo.\, Dr. Jonathan* and Zerviah Jones. 

born Feb. :6, 1779. 
" May 17, 17S1. 
" April 6, 17S3. 

*Died Oct. 26, 17S2, a;t. 2S. 
French, Nichol.vs and Pkiscilla. 



Zerviah, 

Jonathan, 

Ebenczer, 



Timothy, 

Priscilla, 

Nicholas, 

Isaac, 

Lucy, 

Sarah, 

Jonathan, 

Sarah, 

David, 



born July 6, 1745. 

" Oct. 3, 1747. 

" June 30, 1750. 

" Sept. I, 1752^' 

" April 21, 1755. 

*' Aug. 3, t7SS, d. 

" Aug. 21, 1759. _ 

" April 22, 1762. 

" Oct. 3S, 1765. 



F"rench, John and Mary. 



Abigail, 






born Apr. 16, 1735. 


Esther, 






" Jan. 20, 1737. 


John, 






" May I, 1739. 


Mary, 






" June 16, 1741. 


Jerusha, 






" Feb. I, 1744. 


Elizabeth, 






" May II, 1745. 


Ruth, 






" Oct. 1746. 


Joseph. 






" J»ne 3. 1750. 


*D 


ed A 


igust 


14, I7S7, a;t. 53. 


Fl.\gg, C 


ipt. J 


on AS 


and Martha Knight. 


Martlia, 






born Feb. 3, 1760. 


Jonas, 






" Mar. 10, 1762. 


Jerusha, 






" April 27, 1764. 


Mary, 






" Feb. 23, 1766. 


Reuben, 






" Aug. 10, 176S. 


Joseph, 






" Sept. ID, 1772. 


Flagg, 


Joseph and 


Hannah Boynton. 


Hannah, 






born Dec. 3, 1795. 


Foster, 


Edw.vrd and Phebe. 


Susannah, 






born Feb. 3, 1777. 


Elizabeth, 






" April 25, 1779. 


Patty, 






'■ May 19, 17S1. 


Bridget, 






" April 26, 17S3. 


Noah. 






'• Dec. 13, 17S4. 


William, 






" Dec. 5, 1786. 


benjamin, 






" Dec. 4, I7SS. 



Mary, 

Hepzibali, 

William, 

John, 

Elizabeth, 

Jonathan, 

Abigail, 

Whitcomb, 

Rebekah, 

Ebenczer, 

Joseph, 



born July 12, 1750 

" Jan. 31, 1752 

" May 19, 1754 

" April S, 1757 

" Aug. 23, 1759, 

" Jan. 9,1762 

" Mar. 26, 1764 

" Oct. 26, 1766 

" Nov. 3, 176S 

" May 7, 1771 

" July 23, 1773 



French, Josiah and Sar.\h Astin. 
Married Nov. 27, 1760. 

Sarah, born Aug. 27, 1761. 

Rebekah, " July 31, 1763, d- 

Josiah, " June 27, 1765. 

Lucy, " Aug. 9, 1767. 

Daniel, " Feb. zS, 1771. 

William, " May 25, 1773. 

Nathan, " Feb. 9, 1778. 

Rebekah, " May 14. 17S0. 



French, J.\mes and Sar.'Vh Brooks. 
Married Sept. i, 1760. 
[ames, born June 6, 1762. 

Sarah, " Nov. 21, 1766. 

Elizabeth, " Mar. 8, 1769. 

Mary, " May 19, 1771. 

French, Timothy- and Ann.v Willoughby. 

Married May 3, 177 1. 
rimothy, born May S, 1772. 

Anna, " May 8, 1774. 



376 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



French, Nehemiah and Submit. 



Submit, 




born Sept. 22, 


1771. 


Nehemiah, 




" 


Dec. II, 


1774- 


Abraham, 




" 


Jan. 21, 


1777- 


French 


, Isaac 


and Lucy Wilkins. 


Lucy, 




born Sept. 30, 


■779- 


Priscilla, / 










Sarah, \ 


twins. 


•' 


Mar. 6, 


17S1. 


Isaac, 




" 


Oct. 30, 


17S2. 


Susannah, 




•' 


Feb. 10, 


17SS. 


Mark, 




" 


July IS. 


1791. d. 


Mehitable, 




" 


Aug. 7, 


1793- 


David, 




" 


Mar. 3:, 


1794- 


Polly, 




" 


July 18, 


1795- 


Lefa, 




" 


May 26, 


1797- 


Mark, 




" 


Dec. 12, 


1798. 



French, Joseph and Mary Voungman. 
Married Feb. i, 1771. 

born June S, 1772 



Joseph, 

Mary, 

Ebenezer, 

Tabitha, 

Stephen Y 

Mittc, 

Martha, 



Mar. 14, 1774, 

Oct. 14, 1776 

Mar. 20, 1779 

Sept. 27,, 17S1 

June 20, 17S4 

Oct. 14, 17S6, 



GiLsoN, Eben'r and Elizabeth Lawrence. 

Married August 24, 17^19. 
Betty, born Aug. 16, 1775. 

Sarah, " May 19, 1779. 

Goodhue. John and Olive. 

John, born April 4, 1763. 

Samuel, " Apr. 30, 1765. 

Jonathan, " Oct. i, 1767. 

Ephraim, " July 11,1770. 

Joseph, " Jan. 9, 1774. 

Mary, " Dec. 3, 1776. 

Goss, Capt. John* and Catharine CoNA^,T 

Married Feb. 10, 1774. 
John, born Jan. 7, 1775. 



Goodhue, John, Jun., and Rebecca Perham. 

Married April 26, 17S7. 
Sarah, born Apr. 13, 17SS. 

Joseph A., •' Sept. 5, 1789. 

Josiah, " Mar. 19, 1792. 



Gould, James and M.\ry' Lovejoy. 
Married May 27, 1765. 
James, born Dec. 18,1765^. 

Phineas, " July 18,1767, 

Ralph W., " June 19, 1769. 



Hale, Col. John* and Elizabeth Hall. 
John, born Sept. 8, 1756. 

David, " June 8, 1758. 

Elizabeth, •' Sept. 28, 1760. 

William, " July 27, 1762,. 

Rebekah, " Mar. 26, 1765. 

*Died Oct. 32, 1791, xt. 60. 



Hardy, Phineas* and Abiga 
Elizabeth, born at Bradford July 22 
Martha, born June 34- 



Phineas, " June 25, 

Thomas, ■' June 11, 

Noah, ■' Sept. 17, 

Jesse, ■' Dec. 19, 

Isaac, •' July 9, 

Moses, ■' May 17, 

Solomon, •' Aug-, i, 
*Died March 7, 1S13, a;t. 86. 



XL. 

'7S0 
'7S2 
1754 
'756 
■758 
1760 
■763 
1765 
1767 



Hardy, Lemuel and Hannah Jewett 
Silas, born Mar. 13, 1763 



Hannah, 

Susannah, 

Rebekah, 

Mary, 

David, 

Sarah, 



May II, 1765 
July 17, 1767 
Sept. 10, 1769 
Feb. 10, 1772 
June 19, 1775 
Mar. 24, 1777 



Samuel, 

Abel, 

Catharine, 

Lucy, 

Anna, 

Mark, 

Lu'.e, 

Elizabeth, 



Nov. 29, 1776. 
Oct. 23, 17S0. 
Oct. II, 17S2. 
Dec. 30, 17S4. 
Aug. 15, 17S7. 
Oct. 10, 17S9. 
June 13, 1792. 
Nov. 19, 1795. 



*Died Sept. 26, 1821, a:t. 82. 



Hardy, Aaron and Ai:igail Dutton. 

Aaron, born Oct. 24, 1771. 

Reuben, " Aug. 28, 1773. 

Abigail, " Oct. 12, 1775. 

*Died Dec. 26, 1775, xt. 33. 

H.\rdy, Nehemiah and Abigail. 
Married March 29, 17S0. 
Nehemiah, born Apr. 10,1781. 

Kendall, " Apr. 30, 1785. 

John, " Sept. 27, 17S7. 

Mary, " May 9, 1792. 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



377 



Hardy, Isaac and Submit Wheat. 



Married Nov. 13, 17SS. 



Isaac, 
Abraham T., 



born Sept. 9, 1789. 
" May 7, 1794. 



Hakdy, Isaac and Mehitable Boynton. 
Married July 3, 1794. 



Jacob, 
John B., 



born Nov. 14, 1795. 
" Nov. 6, 1797. 



Hardy, Phineas* and Sibbel Shattuck. 



Isaac, 

Noah, 

Sibbel, 

Hannah, 

James, 

Submit, 

Samuel L., 

Elizabeth, 

John G., 



born Nov. 17, 77S2. 

" Mar. 23, 1785. 

" Aug. s, 17S7. 

" Sept. 29, 17S9. 

" Sept. 7, 1793. 

" May 13, 1795. 

" May iS, 1798. 

" April 13, 1S03. 

" April 7, 1805. 



♦Died May 7, 1835, a;t. Si 



Hardy-, Enos* and Mary' Lund. 
Married Nov. 10, 1797. 



Mary, 

Ephraim L., 
Alvah, 
Levi, 
Louisa, 
Sarah Ann, 



" Dec. 3, 179S. 

" Oct. 14, 1801. 

" Sept. 16, 1S03. 

" Sept. 16, 1807. 

" Feb. 10, iSii. 

" Mar. 21, 1816. 



*Died May iS, 1857, a;t. S5. 



Hardt, Moses 


and Abigail Wheat. 


Marrie 


d Nov. 9, 1790. 


Moge», 


born April 1, 1791, d. 


Thomas W., 


" J-in. 6, 1794. 


Moses, 


" Sept. 4, 1795. 


John, 


" Sept. 24, 1797. 


Reuben, 


" Sept. 12, 1799. 


Abigail, 


" Oct. 3, iSoi. 


Phineas, 


" May I, iSoj. 


Leonard, 


" Jan. 30, 1806. 


Nathaniel, 


" June 27, 1808. 


Joseph W., 


" June 31, iSij. 



Hardy, Jessk and Rebekah Baylby. 
Married Jan. 3, 1788. 



Rebekah, 
Martha, 



(27) 



born Feb. 6, 17S9. 
" Aug. 16, 1790. 



Hardy, Jesse 


and Rhoda Wood. 


Jesse, 






born July 20, 1794. 


Joel, 






" Feb. 16, 1796. 


Amos, 






" Aug. 12, 1797. 


Eli, 






" Sept. 16, 1799. 


Luther, 






" Dec. 20, 1S02. 


Phineas, 






" April 29, 1805. 


Daniel, 






" Sept. 8, 180S. 


Harris 


Job 


an 


d Eleanor Harris. 




Married 


Feb. 14, 1764. 


Joseph, 






born May 16, I764- 


Mary, 






" May 2, 1767. 


Simon, 






" Mar. 26, 1770. 


Haskell, 


Joseph and Anna. 



Betsey, 

Joseph, 

Jane, 

Jeremiah, 

David, 



born Sept. 20. 1778. 
" Feb. 6, 17S0. 
" Sept. 27, 17S1. 
" Aug. 31, 1784. 
" Mar. 21, 1786. 



Hazelton, Stephen and Mary*. 



Stephen, 

Mary, 

John, 



born May 25, 1749. 
" Dec. 31, 1754. 
" June 8, 1757. 



Hazelton, Samuel and Molly". 



Benjamin, 

Mary, 

Rebecca, 



born Feb. 25, 1762. 
" Feb. 23, 1764. 
" Nov. 27, 1765. 



Hazelton, Stephen, Jun., and Esther 
Hildreth. 



Married Sept. 15, 1774. 

born Feb. 7, 1775. 
" Aug. 20, 1777. 



Esther, 

Stephen, 

Elizabeth, 

Rebekah, 

Anna, 



Oct. 24, 1779. 
Oct. S, 17S3. 
April 30, 1785. 



HoBART, Col. David and Sarah. 

born Jan. 15, 1745. 
" Dec. 22, 1747. 
" Feb. s. 1749- 



Hobart, Gershom and Alephia. 



Mary, 

Alephia, 



born Oct. 16, 1754. 
" Dec. 29. 1755. 



37S 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



HoBART, Jonathan and Lydia. 

Jonathan, born May 24, 1753 

Joshua, " Dec. 6, 1754 

Jeseph, " May 7, 1757 

Lydia, " Feb. 24, 1760 

Jacob, " May 24, 1763 

Isaac, " June 13, 1764 

Ruth, " April i, 1767 

Asa, " Aug. 10, 1769, 

Sarah, " Sept. 27, 1771 



Hor.AKT, 


Jonathan, 


Jun., 


and Elizabeth 






Lakin. 






M 


irried J 


in. 17, 


17S2. 


Elizabeth 






born 


Kov. 24, 17S3. 


Sarah, 








Oct. iS, 17S4. 


Susannah 


, 






Sept. 3, 17S6. 


Polly, 








Oct. 23, 17SS. 


Jonathan, 








Sept. 37, 1793. 


Joshua, 








July 13, 1796. 



HoLDEN, David, Jun., and Bridget Atwell. 

Married Jan. i, 17S9. 
David, born July 31, 17S9. 

Cumiiigs, '• Aug. 16, 1790. 

Phincas 11., " i\Iay 6, 1792. 

HoTKiNs, Richard and Makv. 

Mary, born Oct. S, 1763. 

Richard, " June 12, 1765. 

Hannah, " April 4, I7'>9. 

Elizabeth, " Aug. 7, 1773. 

Achsah, " June 20, 1775. 



How, Ephr.\im and Marv. 



Nicholas, 

Ephraim, 

Mary, 

Betsey, 

John, 

Joseph, 

Sarah, 

Isaac, 

Samuel, 



born May 12, 

" April 19, 

" June 26, 

" May 30, 

" Oct. II, 

" Feb. 16, 

" June 16, 

" Dec. 2S, 

" Aug. 25, 



17S1 
17S3 
>7SS 
17S7 
17S9, 
1792 
'794 
1797 
1799 



jACti^iTH, Thomas and Rhoda Sfaulding. 
Married Dec. 25, 1776. 

born Nov. aS, 1777. 
Sept. s, 1779. 



Jaouith, Ebenezer and Rl'th. 
Ebcnczer, born Feb. 6, 1777. 



Rhoda, 

Thomas, 

Enoch, 

Daniel, 

Rebekah, 

Asa, 

Isaac, 



April 9, 17S1 
Mar. 9, 17S3 
April 12, 17S6, 
Dec. 31, 178S 
Apr. 25, 1791. 



Jewett, Samuel* and Sarah. 

Sarah, born Mar. 7, 1749 

Mary, " April 22, 1751 

Ruth, " May 10, 1753 

Samuel, " Jan. i, 1756 

Esther, *< June 29, 1758 

Jacob, " Oct. 30, 1760 

John, " April 4, 1763 

Lucy, " April 2S, 1766. 

*Died Dec. 29, 1791, aet. 65. 



Jewett, Dea. Stephen* and Hann.\h 
(F.\rvvell) Cumings. 



Stephen, 

Rebekah, 

Noah, 

Jonathan, 

Lois, 



born Oct. 14, 1753. 

" Jan. 14, 1756. 

" Feb. II, 175?. 

" July 25, 1760. 

" May 21, 1763. 



*Died May 23, 1S03, ret. 75. 



Jewett, Ezekiel and Lucy Townsend. 
Married Feb. 23, 175S. 



Susannah, 
Nathaniel, 
Isaac, 



born Dec. 11, 175S. 
" April 27, 1760. 

" July s. 1763- 



Jewett, Ezekiel and Anna Williams. 

Married Feb. sS, 1765. 
Ezekiel, born May i, 1766. 

William, " Sept. i, 176S. 



Jewett, James* and Margaret. 



Ruth, 

Margaret, 

Eunice, 



born Sept. 3, 1755. 
" Oct. iS, I7SS. 
" Sept. 24, 1761. 



*Died April 9, 1S08, aet. 85. 



Jewett, Lieut. Ebenezer* and Mary 
Rideout. 
Married March 15, 1792. 
Ebenezer, born Feb. 13, 1793 



Polly, 

Nathaniel, 

James, 

Francis, 

Susannah, 

Lydia, 



*Died Oct. 6, 1S2 



Sept. 1 , 1794 
July 21, 1796 
Mar. 29, 1799 
May 26, iSoi 
Dec. 16, 1S03 
April 36, i3o6 
a:t. 83. 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



379 



Jewett, Jacob* and Mehitable Mitchell. 



Abigail, 

Mehitable, 

SuEannah, 

Hannah, 

Daniel, 

Ruth, 

Nathaniel,- 

Sarah, 

Elizabeth, 

Jacob, 



born June 14, 1763. 

" Mar. 9, 1765. 

" Feb, 14, 1767. 

" July 20, 1770. 

" July 20, 1772. 

" Sept. 27, 1774. 

" Jan. I, 1777. 

" Mar. 27, 1779. 

" June 2S, 17S1. 

" Mar. 7, 17S4. 



*Died April 23, 1S13, xt. 76. 



Jewett, Jacob, Jun., and Elizabeth 
Cl'vings. 



James, 

John, 

Jacob, 

David, 

Elizabeth, 

Lucy, 

Ralph W., 

Leonard, 



born Aug 22, 1767. 

" July 2, 1769. 

" June 14, 1770. 

" Aug. 16, 1773. 

" Oct. IS, I77S- 

" Aug. 9, 1777. 

" Dec. S, 1779. 

'• Oct. 2, 17S7. 



Jewett, James, Jun., and Lucy 


Farley. 


Married June 16, 17S9. 




James, born Sept. 


13, 1789. 


Cumings, " Mar. 


I. 1793- 



Johnson, Jonathan and Sakah. 



Jewett, Dea. Stephen, Jun., and Elizabeth 
Pool. 



Married Nov. 16, 1778. 



Elizabeth, 

Stephen, 

Nancy, 

Hannah, 

William P., 

William P., 

Sarah, 

Polly, 

Noah, 

Samuel G., 



born June iS, 1779 

" Ju'y 7. 17S1 

" May II, 17S3 

" Feb. 17, 17SS 

" Feb. 26, 17S7 

" Feb. 4, 17S9, 

" Feb. 24, 1790 

" July S, 1792, 

" Dec. 17, 1794 

" Oct. 29, 179S 



*Died Feb. 22, 1S29, xt. 75. 



Jewett, John and Jane Ames. 
Married Nor. 29, 1795. 



John, 
Jeremiah A., 



born Sept. 13, 1796. 
'• May 2, 179S. 



Elizabeth, 

Sarah, 

Mary, 

Jonathan, 

Hannah, 

David, 



born Aug. 4, 1754. 
" May 30, 1756. 
" April 29, 1758. 
" June 14, 1760. 
" June 4, 1762. 

" July 4. 1764- 



Kemp, Zekubbabel and Abigail 

Lawrence. 

Married Nov. 23, 1737. 



Zerubbabel, 
Zechariah, 



born Feb. 24, 174S. 
" July 26, 1750. 



Kemp, Zerubbabel and Hannah Colbibn. 

Married April 20, 1758. 
Sarah, born Jan. 30,1759. 



John, 



" May 26, 1761. 



Kemp, Thomas and Mehitable Lovejoy. 
Married Oct. 5, 1769. 



Mehitable, 

Thomas, 

Asa, 

William, 
Zerubbabel, 
John, 
Aaron, 
M indwell. 



born Jan. 28, 1771. 

" M;'y 21. 177s 

" April iS, 1777 

" July 26, 1779 

" Jan. 20, 17S1 

" April 13, 1785 

" July 10, 17S7 



Kemp, Thomas and Hannah Hobart 



Levi, 
Ralph, 



born Sept. 6, 179, 
" Mar. 28, 1796. 



Kendall, Ebenezer and Martha. 



Ebenezer, 
Martha, 
John W., 
Ilacy, 



born May 11, 1765. 

" June 26, 1767. 

" Dec. 16, 1769. 

" June 2, 1772. 



Kendall, Hezekiah and Abigail. 



Abigail, 

Luther, 

Lucy, 

Wiliard, 

Walter, 



born Aug. 26, 1793. 
" May 15, 1S02. 
" Mar. 15, 1S04. 
" Jan. 7, 1S06. 
" July 1 1, iSoS. 



Ke.ndrick, Capt. Daniel and Mary Pool • 
Married Feb 15, 17S2. 



Daniel, 
William P., 



born Mar. 30, 1785. 
" June 20, 1794. 



;So 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



Keyes, Abner and Mary. 



Sarah, 

Mary, 

Hannah, 

Abigail, 

Esther, 

Anna, 

William, 

Rebekah, 

Abner, 

Elizabeth, 

Ruth, 



born Sept. 3, 1764. 



Aug 

Julv 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

J"iy 

Aug. 
Dec. 
Feb. 



. 14, 1766. 



14, 176S. 
2, 1770. 

24, 1772. 

15. 1774- 

12, 1776. 

iu 177S. 

2, 1780. 

9, 17S2. 
21, 1785. 



Kinney-, Isr.\el and Hannah. 



Rebekah, 

Israel, 

Hannah, 

Phebe, 

Moses, 

Aaron, 

Polly, 

Susannah, 

Edah, 



born Sept. 19, 1766. 
" Sept. 14, 176S. 



May 
Feb. 
Oct. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Nov. 



3. 1771- 
H. '773- 

is, 1775- 

ID, 177S. 

22, 17S1. 
5. 1783- 
I, 1755- 



Lawrence, Z.\ch. and Sarah L.wvrence. 
Married Dec. 5, 1734. 
Peter, born Aug. 20, 1745, d. 

Zachariah, " July 12, 1747. 

Tonas, " Oct. 19, 1751. 

Peter, " Oct. 8, :7S3. 

Josiah, " Nov. 2, 1756. 



Lawrence 





LIVER* 


and Mary Clmings 






Married D 


EC. 27, 1752. 


Mary, 








born Nov. 4, 1753. 


Oliver, 








" Oct. 7, I7SS. 


Peleg, 








" Aug. 17, 1757. 


Noah, 








" Nov. 30, 1760. 


Daniel, 








" April 26, 1762. 


Silas, 








" June 19, 1764. 


Molly, 








" May 25, 1767. 


Amos, 








" Aug. 6, 1769. 


Eben, 








" Oct. 25, 1771. 


Aaron, 








" May s, 1774. 


Sarah, 








" Oct. 4, 1777. 




*D 


ied 


April 2 


1797, xt. 68. 



Lawrence, Zachariah, Jun., and Rebecca 
Powers. 

Married Nov. 22, 1769. 
Daniel, born Oct. 13, 1772. 

Zachariah, " July :S, 1777. 

Sarah, " Oct. 10, 1779. 

Rebecca, " June 13, 17S4. ' 



L.\wrence, Daniel and Polly Johnson. 



Polly, 

Betsey, 

Charlotte, 

Ruth, 

Daniel, 

AI)igail, 

Mark, 

Luke, 

Louisa, 

Caroline, 



Married May 6, 1790. 
born June 
" Oct. 
" Sept. 
" Nov. 
" April 
" June 
" Aug. 
" April 
" June 
" Mar. 



16, 1791 

20, 1792 

s. 1794 

21, 1796 
7. 179S 

10, iSoo. 
20, iSoi 
14, 1S03 
14, 1S07 
23, iSio 



Lee.\i.\n, Abraham and Eliz.\beth 



Elizabeth, 

Mary, 

Hannah, 

Hannah, 

Submit, 

Abraham, 

Esther, 

Abigail, 

Dorcas, 



Hastings. 
Married Jan. 30, 1745. 

born Feb. 24, 
" June 3, 
" July 26, 
" Oct. I, 
" June 4, 
" Sept. 8, 
" Aug. 8, 
" May 8, 
" July 



13. 



1746. 

174S. 
1750, d. 

1751- 
I7S3- 
1754- 
1756. 
'7SS. 
1760. 



Leeman, Samvel and Love Wheeler. 
ISIarried Nov. 7, 1746. 
Mehitable, 
Samuel, 
Love, 
Mary, 
Hannah, 
Nathaniel, 
Lydia, 
Sarah, 
Abraham, 



Lesley', Jonas and Eliz.\beth Dow. 
Married Jan. 13, 1774. 

Elizabeth, born Nov. 5, 1774 

Jonas, " Mar. i, 1776 

Samuel, " Feb. 23, 1778 

Sarah, " Feb. 25, 17S0 

Joseph, " April 7, 1782 

George, " Feb. 2, 1785 



Aug. 


7, 


'/4/ 
■749 


Nov. 


I, 


1753- 


Nov. 


9. 


1754 


July 


2, 


17S7- 


Aug. 


£>! 


1759- 


Dec. 


9. 


1 761. 


Aug. 


31. 


1764. 


May 


13. 


1769. 



LovEjoY, CHRiSTorHER and Anna. 
Anna, born May 26, 1743 

22, :74s 



Christopher, 

Abial, 

Mehitable, 

Benjamin, 

Obadiah, 

John, 



Oct 

April 28, 1749 
Mar. 10, 1751 
Dec. 25, I7S3 
June 13, 1756 

May 2, 1758, 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



381 



LovEjOY, Jonathan and Mary. 



Jonathan, 

Phineas, 

Daniel, 

Mary, 

Simeon, 

Jacob, 

Jonathan, 

Abial, 

Asa, 

Abel, 

Elizabeth, 



born May 23, 1743, d. 

" Nov. 23, 1744. 

" Feb. 23, 1746. 

" Sept. 27, 1747. 

" June 6, 1750. 

" Feb. 17, 1752. 

" July 3. '754- 

" Aug. 3, 1756. 

" Jan. 2S, 1758. 

" May 6, 1760. 

" Mar. 34, 1762. 



LovEjOY, Daniel and Sarah Wy'man 

Married Nov. 19, 1767. 

born Aug. 2, 176S 

" July 4. 1770 



Daniel, 

Samuel, 

Stephen, 

Sarah, 

Phineas, 

Polly, 

Ralph, 



May 22, 1773 
June 36, 1775 
Nov. II, 1778 
Oct. 16, 1784 
Jan. 3, 1788 



LovEjOY, Asa and Lydia Nevins. 



L,ydia, 

William Nevins, 
Elizabeth, 
Polly, 
Rebecca, 



born Nov. iS, 17S3 
" Aug. 17, 1785 
" July 28, 17S7 
" Nov. 8, 1789 
" Sept. 13, 1793 



Lund, Ephraim and Alice Wheeler. 
Married May 12, 1772. 

born Sept. 7, 1772. 
" Mar. S, 1774. 



Hannah, 

Sarah, 

Alice, 

Mary, 

Ephraim, 

Stephen, 

Ebenezer, 



April 19, 1776. 
May 21, 1778. 
Aug. 14, 1780. 
Oct. 29, 1783. 
July 10, 1786. 



McDonald, James* and Susann 
Roxanna, born July 19, 



Randall, 

Susannah, 

Lucy, 

Mary, 

Elizabeth, 

James, 

John, 



April 14, 
Jan. 18, 
Feb. 8, 
April s, 
Nov. 10, 
Jan. 19, 
June 5, 



1752- 
1754- 
■7S6. 
1758. 
1.760. 
1 761. 
1764. 
1766. 



*Died April 11, iSoi, a;t. 83. 



Martin, Stephen and Anna. 
Stephen, born Sept. la, 1749. 

Jesse, " Aug. i, 1754. 



Martin, Steph'n and Patience Worcester 
Married May 21, 1759. 

born Mar. 3, 1760. 



Anna, 
Jirah, 
Elisha, 
Peter, 



June II, 1762. 
Sept. 32, 1764. 
May 27, 176S. 



Melvin, 


Jonathan 


and Mary Brooks. 




Married Dec. 4, 1750. 


Jonathan, 






born Jan. 14, 1752. 


Melvin, E 


benezer and Susannah. 


Ebenezer, 






born Dec. 28, 1753. 


Nathan, 






" Nov. 20, 1755. 


Eunice, 






" Feb. 9, 1759. 


Daniel, 






" Sept. 8, 1761. 


Susannah, 






" Oct. 23, 1764. 


Seth, 






" April 38, 1767. 


Enoch, 






" Aug. 20, 1769. 



Messer, Benjamin and Mary. 
Benjamin, born Mar. 27, 17S4. 



Merrill, Daniel and Mary Smith. 



Margaret, 

Samuel, 

Daniel, 

Henry, 

Mary, > 

Ruth, i 

Betty, 

William, 

Abigail, 

Margaret, 



twins. 



born Nov. 15, 1756. d. 

" Jan. I, 1759. 

" Mar. 31, 1761. 

" July 17. 1763- 

" Dec. 7, 1765. 

" April 17, 176S. 

" Feb. IS, 1770. 

" May 13, 1772. 

" Feb. I, 1776. 



Merrill, Samuel and Mary. 



Daniel, 

Samuel, 

Isaac, 

Mary, 

Elizabeth, 



born July i, 17S0. 
" Aug. 16, 17S2. 
" June 15, 17S4. 
" Mar. 14, 17S7. 
" June II, 1791. 



Merrill, Daniel* and Phebe Dow. 
Married Oct. 19, 17S9. 

born Sept. i, 1790 
" June 10, 1792 



Daniel, 

William, 

Lydia, 

Mary, 

Evan, 

Mark, 



" Nov. 9, 1794 
" Sept. 13, 179S 
" Sept. 24, 1S02 
" Sept. 30, 1S06 
Died Sept. 25, 1852, a2t. 91. 



382 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



Merrill, Lieut. William and Dolly 
Smith. 

Married Feb. 27, 1794. 

Hannah, born Feb. 9, 1795. 

William S., " Sept. 24, 1797. 

Miranda, " Mar. n, iScx). 



MoOAR, Daniel and Anna. 

Anna, born Dec. 2S, 1751. 

Martha, " Nov. 2, 1753. 

Daniel, " July 23, 1757. 

Jacob, " April S, 1761. 

Sarah, " Mar. 11, 1764. 



MooAK, Daniel, Jun., and Lydia Xevins. 



MosHER, Abijah and Hannah. 



Daniel, 

Isaac, 

David, 

Patty, 
Nathan, 
Ephraim, 
Sally, 



born Mar. 23, 17S1. 

" Feb. 14, 17S3. 

" Oct. 6, 1785. 

" June 12, 17SS. 

" Feb. 19, 1791. 

" April 26, 1794. 

" July IS. 1797- 



Moo.\R, Jacob* and Hannah Shattuck. 
Married Jan. 15, 17S4. 
Jacob, born July 29,1784. 

Abel, " Jan. 25, 17S6. 

Hannah, •' Oct. 21, 17S7. 

Nathan, " Aug. 12, 17S9. 

Moo.\R, Jacob and Dorc.\s Hood. 
Married May 20, 1794. 



George, 
Hannah, 
Sally, 
Hannah, 



born Feb. 19, 1777. 
" Oct. 6, i7Si,d^ 
" Sept. 12, 17S3. 
" Mar. 12, 1786. 



Nevins, Thomas and Bridget Snow. 
Married 1745. 
Bridget, born Dec. 21, 1746.- 

Thomas, " May 25, 1748. 



Nevins, Willi.^m* and M.\ry. 



William, 

Joseph,, 

Benjamin, 

Mary, 

John, 

Phineas, 

Lydia, 

Elizabeth, 



born July 26, ,1746. 

" July 20, 174S. 

" Aug. IS, 1750. 

" Aug. 2, 1752. 

" Feb. 26, 1755. 

" Feb. 23, 1758. 

" July 16, 1760. 

" Oct. 1762. 



*Died Feb. 15, 1785, xt. 66. 



Nevins, D,\vid and Lois P.\Tcn. 



Tohn, 

Margaret, 

Lois, 

John, 

David, 



born Oct. 12, 1748, d. 
" Feb. 3, 1752. 
" Sept. i6, 1753. 
" April 18, 1755. 

" Ju'y 7. 175S. 



Nevins, Ensign Willi.\m* and Rebecca 
Ch.^mberl.-mx. 



Gardner, 






born 


Jan. 


4. 


I79S- 


^Married >Lirch 2. 


, 176S. 






John, 






.1 


Aug. 


Ill 


1796. 


Susannah, born Dec. 2. 


1776. 




Dorcas, 






*• 


Aug. 


21 


1798. 










Betsey, 






" 


Sept. 


7> 


iSoo. 


*Died 1776, ret. 


30- 






David, 






" 


April 


15. 


1802. 




, 














Jason, 






" 


Jan. 


I, 


1804. 


Nevins, Joseph and Sarah Pow 


ERS. 




Louisa, 






" 


J-'iy 


28, 


1S06. 


Married Feb. 20, 


1772. 






Luke, 






" 


July 


iS, 


1 80S. 










Sally, 






" 


July 


8, 


1810. 


Sarah, born 


Dec. 3, 


1772, 


d 


Mark, 






• • 


Feb. 


23. 


1S13. 


Joseph, " 


June 10, 


1774. 


d 


Daniel, 






" 


May 


II. 


1815. 


Phineas, " 
Sarah, " 


May 5, 
Dec. 17, 


1776. 
1777- 






*Dicd Feb 


2, 


1S2S 


a;t. 66 


























Hannah, " 
Hepzibah, " 


June 13, 
June 6, 


1779- 

1 781. 




















Mosher, Iames 


an 


d E 


L'JN'ICE 


Blood. 
























Nevins, Joseph and Lucy Sawtell. 






Married May 7 


1770. 






Lucy, born 


Dec. 30, 


I7S3- 




Catharine 






born Mar. 


9. 


1772. 


Pou'y, 


J">y 4. 


I7S6. 




Jacob, 






" 


June 


3. 


1774- 


Ama, ? " 


IMar. 23, 


1789. 




Sarah, 






" 


Apri 


3. 


1777- 


Gardner, " 


F"eb. iS, 


1792. 


d 


John, 






" 


May 


31. 


1779- 


Mitte, 


Mar. 16, 


1794. 




Mary, 






" 


Jan. 


23l 


I7S3- 


Gardner, " 


Feb. 6, 


■797- 




Betty, ) 














Sukey, " 


April 12, 


1799. 




Eunice, 1 


twins, 




" 


Sept 


25. 


17S6. 


Jcteph, " 


April 8, 


iSoi. 





FAMILY REGISTERS. 



383 



Nbvins, Benjamin and Annis Moore. 

Married Feb. 9, i77S- 

Patty, born Dec. 7, 1775. 

Benjamin, " Oct. J, 1777. 

Lydia, " April 7, 17S0. 

Sarah, " May 25, 1782. 

William, " Mar. 5, 17S6. 



NOVES, 


Dea. 


Enoch* and Eliz.\beth. 


Elizabeth 






born Jan. 30, 1749. 


Lucy, 






" Feb. 16, 1752. 


Enoch, 






" Aug. 31,1754. 


Hannah, 






" Oct. 24, 1756. 


Elijah, 






" Oct. 3, 1758. 


Benjamin 






" Dec. 12, 1760, d. 


Jane, 






" Aug. I, 1762. 


Rebecca, 






" April 23, 1765. 


Benjamin 


, 




" Oct. 6, 1767. 




*Died 


Sept., 


1796, set. So. 


Parker 


Samuel and Mary. 


Samuel, 






born April 7, 1740. 


Eleazer, 






" Mar. 30, 1744. 


Lemuel, 






" Mar. 4, 1747. 


Lucy, 






" Mar. 29, 1750. 


Mary, 






" Mar. 27, 1753. 


Esther, 






" May 21, 1755. 



Parker, Benjamin* and Alice Woods. 

Sarah, born Dec. 3, 1763. 

Benjamin Woods, " Sept. 27, 1765. 

Patience, " Feb. 5, 1769. 

Ebenezer, " July 5, 1772. 

*Died Feb. 7, 1S02, a;t. S2. 

Parker, Stephen and Rachel. 



Parker, Benjamin Woods and Deborah 
Getchell. 



Mary B., 
Joseph D., 



born July 7, iSii. 
" April 17, 1S14. 



Jane, 
John B., 



born Nov. S, 1781. 
" Aug. 4, 17S6. 



Parker, Benjamin Woods* and Alice 

Pratt. 

Married Nov. 9, 17SS. 



Benjamin W., 
Olive, 
Calvin, 
John Manly, 
Luther, 
Lucinda, 
Iliram, 
George W., 



born Mar. S, 1789 

" Nov. 4, 1790 

" July 20, 1792 

" Mar. 31, 1794 

" Mar. 19, 1796 

" July 16, 1797 

" April 6, 1799 

" Feb. 37, iSoi 



Parker, Capt. Isaac* and Olive Abbott 

Olive, born June 27, 1795 

Hannah, " May 29, 1797 

Achsah, " June 24, 1799 

Isaac, " April 12,. iSoi 

John, " July 30, 1803 

*Died Dec. 22, 1857, a;t. 88. 



Patch, Dea. Thomas* and Anna Gilson. 

Married March 25, 1742. 
Anna, born Nov. 20, 1742. 



Tliomas, 

Sarah, 

Joseph, 

David, 

Daniel, 



Jan. 17, 1745. 
Mar. 9, 1746. 
Aug. 24, 1749. 
Aug. 2, 1751. 
Oct. 9, 1753. 



*Died May i, 1754, set. 40. 



Patch, Thomas,* Jun., and Molly 



Thomas, 

Molly, 

Lydia, 

Richard, 

David, 

Rachel, 

Sarah, 

Daniel, 

Joseph, 



born Oct. 10, 177 1 

" Mar. I, 1773 

" Sept 21, 1774 

" May 26, 1776 

" Oct. 6, 1778 

" May 27, 1780 

" Aug. 21, 1783 

" Sept. 7, 17S4 

" Mar. 4, 1791- 



*Died Nov. 7, 1S2S, ajt. 85. 



Phelps, Francis and Phebe. 

Francis, born Aug. 15, i743- 

Timothy, " Sept. 10, 1745. 

Joseph, " June 19, 1748. 

Phebe, " May 6, 1750. 

Phelps, John and Deborah. 

John, born April 30, 1744- 



Sarah, 

Nathan, 

Henry, 



July 31, 1746. 
Sept. I, 1749. 
April iS, 1751. 



*Dicd Jan. 2, 1S30, st. 64. 



Phelps, John and Mary Lakin. 



Simeon Lakin, 
Sally, 
Luther, 
Betsey, 



born Mar. 4, 17S3. 
" June 5, 1785. 
" June 17, 1787. 
" Sept. 7, 17S9. 



384 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



Phelps, Nathan and Mary Fletcher. 



Nathan, 

William p'letcher, 

Mary, 

Lucy, 

Thankful, 

Susannah, 

Leonard, 

Zeruiah, 



born Feb. i, 17S0. 

" Sept. 16, :7Si. 

" Sept. 14, 17S3. 

" Jan. 12, 17S6. 

" Sept. 27, 17SS. 

" July 24. ■792- 

" Oct. 12, 1795. 

" May 10, iSoo. 



Philbrick, Jonathan and Beulah. 

Jonathan, born July 3,1763. 

Thomas, " Dec. 1, 1765. 

Mary, " Feb. 16, 176S. 

Beulah, " Mar. 22, 1770. 

Isaac, " Sept. 3, 1773. 

James, " May 7, 177S. 



Philbrick, John and Sarah Jewett. 
Married Dec. 6, 1770. 
John, born Sept. 3, 1771. 

Sarah, " Sept. 16, 1773. 

Mary, " Aug. 10, 1777. 

Samuel, »' Aug. 22, 1779. 

Joel, " April 24, 17S1. 

Pierce, Ebenezer and Elizabeth. 
Daniel, born April 3, 1755. 

Mary, " June 5, 1757. 



Pierce, Ephraim and Esther Stone. 
Married March 11, 1766. 
Betty, born Sept. 26, 1766. 

" Jan. 26, 176S. 



Mary, 
Esther, 
Susannah, 
Sarah, 
Deborah, 
. Ephraim, 
Rebekah, 
John, 



May 19, 1770. 
April 23, 1772. 
Aug. II, 1774. 
April II, 1776. 
April 12, 177S. 
July 26, 17S1. 
May 8, 1784. 



Pierce, Richard and Susannah Jewett. 
Married May 22, 1766. 



Warner, 

Nathaniel, 

Ebenezer, 

Jacob, 

Susannah, 

Isaac, 

Eunice, 

Abraham, 

Abigail, 

Daniel, 



born June 22, 1767. 

" Jan. 12, 1769. 

" Feb. iS, 1771. 

" Sept. 16, 1772. 

" July 23, 1774. 

" June 15, 1776. 

" Sept. 25, 1778. 

" Nov. 14, 17S0. 

" July 24- 1783. 

" Tec. 2S, 1788. 



Pierce, Solomon and Lucy Parker. 



Married March 19, 1771. 



Solomon, 

Lemuel, 

Eleazar, 

Lucy, 

Mary, 

Hannah, 

Samuel, 

Simon, 

Levi, 

Ephraim, 



born Sept. 2, 1771. 

" June 13, 1773. 

" April 4, 1775. 

" Jan. II, 1777. 

" Jan. I, 1779. 

" Mar. II, 17S1. 

" May 30, 1783. 

" Nov. 16, 1785. 

" July S, 17S9. 

" Mar. 29, 1792. 



Pierce, Nehemiah and Mary-. fJ-y^ p}l\<) f 
Nehemiah, born Feb. 5, 177S. 

Isaac, " Miir. 19, 17S0. 

William, 1 

Marv i '^'"^' " Mar. 2S, 17S2. 

James, " May 9, 17S4. 



Pool, William* and Hannah Nichols. 
Married June 19, 1751. 



Hannah, 

Elizabeth, 

Meh liable, 

William Welsted, 

James, 

Abigail, 

Sarah, 

Bridget, 

Mary, 

Rebekah, 

Lucy, 

Benjamin, 

Bethiah, 

Sarah, 



born Dec. 20, 1751. 

" July 18, I7S3 

" Feb. 

" May 

" Dec. 

" July 

" Dec. 

" Aug. 

'• Feb. 

" Mar. 

" Sept. 

" Jan. 

" Aug. 



12. J7SS 
6, 1756 
2, 17S7 
3>. I7S9 
•S. >76o, 
5. '762 

4. 1764^ 
29, 1766/1 



6, 176S 
17. >77' 
3. 1772 



Sept. 20, 1774 



d. 



*Died Oct. 27, 1795, set. 70. 



Powe^rs, Capt. Peter* and Ann.< Keyks. 



Peter, 

Stephen, 

Anna, 

Whitcomb, 

Phebe, 

Alice, 

Levi, 

Nahum, 

Francis, 

Fanna, 

Philip, 

Samson, 

Fanna, 



born Nov. 29, 172S. 

" Oct. 28, 1729, 

" Mar. 9, 1732. 

" Oct. 10, 1733. 

" Feb. s, 1735. 

" Dec. 30, 1736. 

" June 3, 1739.. 

" April 1 1, 1741 . 

" July 15. 1742- 

" April 19, 1744, d. 

" May 20, 1746. 

" Mar. 12, 174S. 

•• Mar. 22, 17S0. 



*Died August 27, 1757, xt. 56. 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



385 



Powers, Stephen and Lucy Cumings. 



Married Jan. 5, 1757. 



Lucy, 

Stephen, 

Rebecca, 

Peter, 

Bridget, 

Caleh, 

William, 

Catharine, 



born Oct. 20, 1758. 

" April 13, 1761. 

" April 30, 1763. 

" April 29, 1765. 

" Sept. s, 1767. 

" Sept. IS, 1769. 

" Dec. aS, 1771. 

" May I, 1775. 



Powers, Whitcomb and Mary Dolliver.- 

Married May 20, 1755. 
"Whitcomb, born April 17, 1756. 

Powers, Francis and Elizabeth Cumings. 



Married May S, 1763. 



Francis Grant, 

Elizabeth, 

Anna, 

Philip, 

Anna, 

Frances, 

Lucy, 

Lucy, 

James, 

Phebe, 

Francis, 

Levi, 



born Jan. S, 1764. 

" March 5, 1766. 

" Feb. 3, 176S, d. 

" Aug. 17, 1769. 

" April 13, 1771. 

" April 4, 1773. 

" June I, 1776, d 

" Mar. 13, 1779. 

" Sept. 15. 1781. 

" J-in- I. '7S4- 

" April 3, 17S7. 

" Mar. 19, 1791. 



Powers, Samson* and Elizabeth Nutting. 



Married August 4, 1774. 



Mary A., 

Samson, 

Peter, 

Joel, 

Grant, 

Levi, 

Anna, 

LTrsula, 



born Oct. 16, 1774. 

" Jan- 17. 1777- 

" Feb. 24, 1779. 

" Aug. S, 17S1. 

" Mar. 31, 1784. 

" Mar. 20, 1786. 

" Sept. II, 17S9. 

" Oct. 3, 1791. 



*Died Jan. 2, 1S22, xt. 73. 



Pratt, Thomas and Caty' Cumings. 
Married Sept. 27, 1764. 

born June 2, 1765. 
" May 9, 1767. 



David, 
Caty, 

Hannah, 
Jerahmael C, 
Betty, 
Molly, 



(28) 



July 29, 1769. 
April 12, 1772. 
Jan. 13, 1774. 
June 10, 1776. 



Pratt, Thomas and Anna Lawrence. 

Married April 13, 1779. 

Anna, born Sept. 25, 1779. 
Stephen, i 

Susannah, ( t'^'"^' " Oct. 24, 17S4. 

John, " Feb. iS, 1791. 



Proctor, Moses* and Mary Byam. 



Mary, 

Rebekah, 

Cyrus, 

Moses, 

Philip, 



born Dec. 31, 1741. 
" April IS, 1744. 
" Sept. 13, 1745. 
" Nov. 25, 1747. 
" Mar. 16, I7S0. 



*Died Aug. 21, 17S0, a-t. 73. 



Phoctor, Ezekiel and Elizabeth. 



Abijah, 
Hannah, 
Ezra, 
Hannah, 

Esther, 



born Aug. 13, 1772. 
" Dec. 16, 1774, d. 
" May IS, 1776. 
" Oct. s. '777- 
" Jan. 7, 17S1. 



Proctor, Cyrus and .Siubel Farnsworth. 
Married March 10, 1771. 



Cyrus, 

Timothy, 

Sibbel, 

Nathaniel, 

Thomas, 

Mary, 

Elizabeth, 

Hannah, 

John, 

Abigail, 

Amos, 

Anna, 

Mary, 

Susannah, 



born Jan. 16, 1772. 

" Mar. II, 1774.. 

" May 13, 1776. 

" F"eb. 16, 1778. 

" Jan- 3'. 17S0. 

" Jan. 10, 17S2, d. 

" Oct. 2S, 17S3. 

" June iS, 178s. 

" Jan. 25, 1787. 

" Dec. S, 17S8. 

" June 12, 1 791. 

" Sept. 7, 1793.. 

" Feb. 8, 1796. 

" June 18, 1799. 



Proctor, Moses, Jun., and Ruth Austin. 



Moses, 

Ruth, 

Aaron, 



born Sept. 15, 1786.. 
" Alar. iS, 17SS. 
" May 7, 1791.. 



Proctor, Joel and Katy. 

Joel, born June 38, 1784. 

Jonas, " May 24, 1786. 



i86 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



Ranger, Nehemiah and Lydia. 

Samuel, born Oct. 24, 1773. 

Lydia, " Oct. 20, 1779. 

Asahel, " Aug. 11, 17S1. 

Nehemiah, " Nov. S, 17S4. 

Reuben; " June 19, 1791. 

Benjamin, " Mar. 22, 1794. 



Reed, Capt. William* and Pkiscilla 
Emekv. 

born Feb. S, 1763, d. 
" Dec. 2, 1764. 
" July 2}, 1767. 



Samuel, 

Polly, 

William, 

Abel, 

Sila>,, 

Priscilla 

Asa, 

Sarab, 

Uriaii, 

Samuel, 

Abiirail, 



Rlnnells, STEriiE.\ and Chloe Thurj^ton. 
Married Dec. 7, 17S0. 

born Aug. 4, 17S1. 
" Sept. I, 17S5. 

twins, " Dec. 10, 17S7. 



Mary, 
Stephen, 
Hannah, 
Chloe, 



Ma 



■• 33, 1709. 



" Jan. 27, 1771. 

" June 5, !773- 

" Nov. 27, 1775. 

" Nov. 30, 1777. 

" Nov. 13, 1779. 

'• Dec. 19, !7S3. 

" Feb. I, 17S6. 
'Died July 13, '.S17, a-t. 77. 



Rekd, Jo.siiL.v 
Elizabeth, 
Josliua, 
Ilaur.ali. 
Anna, 
Judith, 
John, 
Thomas, 



and Elizabeth. 
born Mar. 9, 176S. 
" Mar. 23, 1770. 
" June 21, 1772. 
" Feb. 3, 1774. 
" Oct. 2S, 1776. 
" Sept. 13, 177S. 
" Jan. 7, 17S1. 



James, 
Polly, 
Joseph. 
Esther, 
Joseph, 
Hannah, 
David, 
Betsey, 
Lvdia, 



Ride JUT, J.wiei and Makv. 

horn April 20, 1765. 
" Nov. 12, 1767. 



Ian. 


7, 


1771, d. 


Mar. 


0) 


1772. 


Mar. 


37. 


177-1- 


Nov. 


I, 


1776. 


Mav 


3.?. 


'779- 


Ju'y 


I, 


1 7-^3 • 


July 


1, 


!7?7- 



RiDEouT, Nathaniel and Susanxaii 

SrAfLDING. 

Married Jan. iS, 1776. 



RuN.NELLS, Samuel and Abigail Smith. 
Married Sept. 20, 1791. 



Nathaniel, 

Asa, 

Samuel, 

Jonathan, 

Susannah, 

Diadema, 

Nathaniel, 

Gardner, ) 

TT ij 1 I twins, 
Huldah, * ' 

John, 



born May 2, 177S, d. 

" .'^ept. S, 1779. 

" Oct. 14, 17S0. 

" Sept. 17, 17S2. 

" Oct. iS, 17X4. 

" Sept. 20, !7S'i. 

" Mar. S, 17S?. 



June 
Jan. 



9. '793- 



Frederick, 

Ebenezer, 

Hannah, 

Persis, 

Josiah, 

Susannah, 

.Samuel, 



born June 2S, 1793. 

" J^'-Iy S- 1794- 

" July 27, 1796. 

" Aug. 39, 179S. 

" Dec. I, iSoo. 

" Jan. 2S, 1803. 

" June 23, 1S05. 



Russ, Jo.n.vtiian and Lucv Kendall. 
Married Nov. 16, 17^?. 



Lucy, 

Jonathan, 

Ttadiel, 

Sarah, 

.Nathan, 

Hannah, 



born May 9, 1760. 

" Mar. 17, 1763. 

" May 30, 1764. 

" Dec. 25, 1766. 

" Mav 34, 1760. 

" Tan. 20, 1772. 



.Sander.son, Benja^vjin'* and Esther. 



David. 

Henjamin. 

Jeremiah, 

Ichabod, 

Submit, 

Richard W. 

Simon, 

Esther, 

John, 

Ichaliod W 



born Jan. 25. 1773. 
" Mar. 24. 1777. 
" Aug. 31, 1770. 
" July 21, 17S3, 
" June 7, I7?4. 
" Aug. 2S. 17SS. 
" Mar. 20, 1790. 
" June 22, 1795. 
" J;"'- 23. i7qS 
" Dec. S, 1S02. 



*Dicd Sept. 25, 1S26, xt. So. 



Saun'dersox, Ton'athan* and Lucv Pool 
Married Oct. iS, 179!. 



Lucy, 
Almira, 
Marinda, 
Jonathan, 
Jonathan, 
Almira, 
William P., 
Henry H., 



born Nov. 3^, 1793. 

" Mar. 29, 1796, d. 

" Mar. 1, 179S. 

" Dec. 21, iSoo, d. 

" Dec. 30, 1S03. 

" Dec. 33, 1S04. 

" Feb. II, 1S07. 

" Sept. 13, iSio. 



*Died August 23, 1S50, a-t. S4. 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



387 



Sanderson, David and Laurana Siiattlck. 

Married Dec. 2S, 17S4. 
Peter, born July iS, 17S7. 

Sarll, William and Hannah Dinsmore. 
Married August 6, 1747. 



Elizabeth, 

William, 

Hannah, 

Joseph, 

Sarah, 

Mary, 

John, 

Jonathan, 

Hannah, 

Lucy, 



born July 16, 174S. 

" Mar. 22, 1750. 

" April 19, 1752, d. 

" May 13, 1755. 

" Jan. 7, 1758. 

" Mar. iS, 1760. 

" Aug. 6, 1762. 

" May 29, 1765. 

" June II, 1767. 

" Aug. 26, 1769. 



Shannon, Richard Cutts and Elizabeth. 



James N., 
Elizabeth, 
Mary Ann, 
Abigail, 
John Langdon, 
So])hia, 



born Aug. 16, 1774. 
" June 12, 1776. 
" Aug. 12, 177S. 
" Oct. 21, 17S0. 

" J"'y 4. i/Ss- 

" June 4, 1786. 



Shattick, Zechariah* and Elizabeth 

FiSK. 

Married March 3, 1747. 

Zechariah, born Nov. 24, 1747. 

Elizabeth, " May 15, 1750. 

Mary, 'TS.v 

Abigail, " June 10, 1755. 
Isaac died in the army, 1776. 
Samuel, 

Sibbel, " March, 1760. 

Daniel, " Feb. 24, 1767. 

Abel, " June 3, 1769. 

Nathan, " June 9, 1774. 

*Died March -20, 1809, a;t. 85. 

.SiiATTVCK, William* and Ruth. 



Rutli, 

William, 
Mary, 



born Nov. i, 1739. 
" Feb. 26, 1741. 
" Mar. I, 1743. 



Shattuck William and Exif.riem e 

Curtis. 

Married Nov. 26, 1745. 

Nathaniel, 
Experience, 

*Died March 13, 1761, aet 47.. 



Shattuck 


William and Zilpha Turner. 




Married 


April 2, 1761. 


Laurana, 




born May 12, 1762. 


Rebekah, 




" May 6, 1764. 


Priscilla, 




" Oct. 7, 1766. 


Sarah, 




" May 28, 1770. 


William, 




" Aug. 20, 1772. 


Lemuel, 




" Feb. 12, 1776. 


Shattuck, Zechariah and Elizabeth 




F 


arlev. 




Married 


Nov. 28, 1771. 


Elizabeth, 




born I773- 


Sarah, 




" May 4, 1774. 


Mary, 




" Mar. 9, 1776. 


Isaac, 




" April 9, 177S. 


Zechariah, 




" July 23, 17S1. 


Abel, 




" Sept. 21, 17S2. 


Joseph, 




" Jan. 20, 1785. 


Amos, 




" J-in- 11. 179.V 


Sii.\ttuck, Samuel and Lois Wheat. 




Married 


May 5, 1791. 


Samuel, 




born Mar. 25, 1792. 


Lois, 




" Oct. 20, 1793. 


Nathaniel, 




" June II, 1795. 


Isaac, 




" J;i"- 35, 1799. 


William, 




" Feb. 2, 1S02. 


S 


hed, John and Rachel. 


John, 




born June 17, 1791. 


Julia, 




" ^^sr. IS, 1793. 


Ebenezer, 




" Jan. 24, 1796. 


Sued, John 


and Lucy Jewett. 




Marrie 


d Nov. 5, 1707. 


Gardner, 




born Oct. 9, 179S. 


Luther, 




" April I, 1800. 


Shipley, Abel 


and Lucy Farley. 




Married 


Nov. 24, 1768. 


Abel, . 




born Oct. 28, 1769. 


Lucy, 




" Mar. 15, 1772. 


Anna, 




" Sept. 26, 1774. 


John, 




" June 4, 1776. 


Sarah, 




" June 3, 177S. 


Amos, 




" Mar. 5, 17S0. 


Benjamin, 




" Sept. 9, 17S2. 


Betty, 




" Sept. 26, 17S4. 


Page, 




" Mar. 20, 1787. 



iSS 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



Smith, MosEb,* and Mary Boynton. 
Married Jan. 39, 1756. 



Mary, 

Elizabeth, 

Moses, 



born July 2, 1757. 
" April IS, 1759. 
" June 22, 1761. 



*Died August 25, 1761, act. 31. 

Smith, John and Sar.\h Merrill. 

Margaret, born April 22, 177S. 

Sarah, " April 25, 177S. 

Benjamin, " April 27, 17S0. 

Jerusha, " Oct. 4, 17S2. 

Daniel, " Aug. 13, 1786. 

*Died Nov. 8, 1S07, xi. 59. 



Smith, Manasseh and Haxn.\h Emerson. 



Married Feb. 17, 1774. 



Hannaii, 

Mary, 

Lydia, 

Manasseh, 

Joseph E., 

Lucy. 

Samuel E., 



born Oct. 17, 1774. 

•' Feb. 1, 1776. 

" Dec. 15, 1777. 

" Aug. 16, 1779. 

" Mar. 6, 17S2. 

" Sept. 22, 17S3. 

" Mar. 12, 17SS. 



Smith, Rev. David* and Hepzibah 
Worcester. 

Married Jan. i, 1795. 

David Page, born Sept. 20, 1795. 

Noah, " Sept. 7, 179S. 

Hepzibah L., " Sept. 7, iSoi. 

Emmons, " Dec. 7, 1S02. 

Martha, " July 14, 1S04. 

Mary, " Sep. 19, 1805. 

Hannah, " Sept. 10, 1S06. 

Lydia, " Aug. i, 180S. 

*Dicd Aug. iS, 1824, xt. 54. 



Smith, Rev. Eli* and C.vtharine Sheldon. 

Eli, born July 16, 17S7. 

Smith, Rev. Eli and Ama Emerson. 

Married May 7, 1794. 

Daniel E., born April 1, 1796. 

Ama, " Mar. 29, 179S. 

Luther, " Aug. 11, 1800. 

Catharine II., " Aug. 13, 1802. 

Joseph E., " Dec. 24, 1S04. 

John R., " Feb. 12, 1S07. 

*Died May 11, 1S47, a;t. 87. 



Smith, Emerson and Mary Page. 
Married Nov. i6, 176S. 



David. 
Samuel, 



born Sept. 2S, 1769. 
" Mar. 13, 1772. 



Smith, Emerson and Abig.vil Ayre. 

Married Jan. 4, 1775. 



Jesse, 
John, 


" April 12, 


1777 




Mary, 


" Oct. IS, 


1779 




Betty, 


" Aug. 20, 


1782 




Abigail, 


" Dec. 12, 


17SS 




Hannah, 


" April 6, 


17S7 




Ralph, 


" Aug. 13, 


1 791 




Rebekah, 


" Jan. 28, 


'795 




Joel, 


" June 13, 


179S 





Spalding, Jacob and Esther Shed. 
Married 17S2. 

born Sept. 3, 17S2, d. 
" May 12, 17S4. 



Esther, 

Abigail, 

Esther, 

Abraham, 

Rachel, 

Isaac, 

Rebekah, 

Sally, 

Betsey, 

Jacob, 

Sybel, 



July S, 1786 
July 17, 17S8 
Aug. 28, 17S9 
Oct. 13, 1791 
Jan. iS, 1794 
April 17, 1797 
April 17, 1799 
Mar. 8, 1S03 
July 14, iSoS 



Stearns, Isa.\c and Rebecca Jewett. 
Married F'eb. 26, 1767. 



Rebekah, 
Sarah, 
Anna, 
Isaac, 



born Dec. 16, 1767. 
" Nov. 9, 1769. 
" Mar. 10, 1772. 
" Feb. 17, 1773. 



Ste.vrns, Joseph and Abigail Whe.\t. 
Married Mar. 31, 177S. 



Joseph, 
Thomas \V., 
Daniel, 

Abigail, 



born Mar. 21, 1779. 
" Nov. IS, 17S2. 
" Mar. 22, 17S5. 
" Sept. 12, 17S9. 



Stevens, Isaac, Jun., and Eliz.\beth 
Johnson. 
Married Jan. 2, 1771. 
Elizabeth, born Mar. 7, 1773. 

Isaac, " July i, 1774. 

Hannah, " April 19, 1776. 

Sarah B., " Dec. ,2, 1777. 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



389 



Stewart, 


James and Mary. 




Tenney, W 


LLiAM* and Anna Jewett. 


James, 






born Oct. 15, 


1742. 


Benjamin, 


born Oct. 38, 1746. 


Thomas, 






" Sept. 29, 


1744. 


Martha, 


. '• April 13, 1749. 


Peter, 






" June 13, 


1746. 


W^illiam, 


" Mar. 17, 1755. 


Jerathmael, 






" Mar. 14, 


174S. 


Anna, 

*Died 


" Jan. 17, 1759. 
March 32, 1783, aet. 61. 


Stiles, Caleb and 
Married F 


\T \ R ^' To w IV w T? v r» 


ITl A K 1 X u vv r* ^ 

sb. 7, 1760. 




Tenney 


, Benjamin and Ruth. 


Lucy, 






born Dec. 21, 


1762. 


Ruth, 


born Dec. 2, 1772. 


Caleb, 






" Feb. 17, 


1765- 


Benjamin, 


" July 7. 1774- 


George, 






*' Jan. 20, 
" July 17, 
" Dec. 14, 
" May 30, 
" Oct. 12, 


1767. 
1769. 
1770. 
1773- 
177S- 






Samuel, 
Natlianiel, 
Jonathan, 
Benjamin, 


Tenney, C; 

Phebe Jewett, 
Anna, 

Caleb Jewett, 
Nancy, 


ipt. William* and Phebe 
Jewett. 

born Oct. 12, 1777. 
" Feb. 21, 1779, d. 


Stiles, 


Eli 


and Sarah. 




" May 3, 1780. 
" Jan. 29, 1782. 


Sarah, 
Eavry \V., 
William, 
Rachel, 
David, 






born Oct. 6, 
" Aug. 27, 
" Oct. 12, 
" April II, 
" Oct. 27, 


176S. 
1770. 
■773- 
177S- 

1777- 


William, 
William, 
Sally, 

Benjamin G., 
Ralph E., 
Lucinda, 

*Died 


" Mar. 20, 1784, d. 
" Sept. 12, 1785. 
" Oct. 22, 1786. 
" Dec. 8, 1788. 
" Oct. s, 1790. 
" July 16, 1793. 












June 16, 1S06, xt. 51. 


Taylor 


Abraham* and Lydia. 

born Jan. S, 1732, d. 






Olive, 


Thurston, Moses* and Hannah. 


Lydia, 

Leonard, 

Olive, 

Abraham, 

Sarah, 

Submit, 






" Oct. II, 
" Oct. 20, 
" Aug. 20, 
" Aug. II, 
" Oct. 24, 
" June 13, 


•733- 
1735- 
1737. 
1739- 
1741. 

1743- 


Hannah, 

Moses, 

Chloe, 

Oilman, 

Mary, 

Lydia, 


born Sept. 10, 1744. 
" July II, 1746. 

" July IS. '74S. 

" July 19, 1750. 
" July 29. '753- 
" July 6, 1756. 


*Dicd June j. 


1743. wt. 36. 




*Died 


April 6, iSoo, set. 79. 


Taylor, Edward and Mary. 




Wallingfore 


, Lt. David* and Elizabeth 


Daniel, 






born Mar. 24, 


1749. 




Leeman. 


Joel, 






" Aug. 23, 


'752. 


Married March 6, 1767. 


Mary, 
Jacob, 
Anna, 






" June 19, 
" Aug. 21, 
" Aug. 2S, 


"754- 
1756. 
'757- 


Jonathan, 
Sarah, 
Martha, 
David, 


born Sept. 10, 1770. 

" July s. 1772. 
" Mar. 26, 1774. 
" Nov. 26, 1776, d. 












Taylor, 


Jonathan* and Kbzia. 


David, 


" Oct. 12, 177S. 


Kczia, 

Azubah, 

Esther, 






born June 29, 
" Nov. 12, 
" Feb. 19, 


749- 
I7SI- 
17S4- 


Ebenezer, 
Benjamin, 
Joel, 
Hannah, 


" Oct. S, 17S0. 
" Jan. 24, 1782. 
" Jan. 22, 17S4. 
" June 29, 1785. 


*Died 


Ap 


HI 7. 


17S9, ret. 69. 




Abigail, " Jan. 4, 1790. 
*Died March 12, 1791, a;t. 45. 












Taylor, Ja> 
Mai 


lES 


anH T.r»TG ■RiTT-rc-Dt 


lELD. 






■ried April 21, 176S. 


Wardwell 


, Solomon and Bethiah. 


James, 






born April 16, 


1769. 


Amos, 


born July 25, 1779. 


Lois, 






" June 4, 


1770. 


Bethiah, 


" Feb. 2, 1782. 


Molly, 






" Jan. 31, 


1772. 


Daniel, 


" Jan. II, 1784. 



390 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



Webster, Abel and Hannah. 



Hannah, 

Nathaniel, 

Abel, 

Mehitable, 

Moses, , 

Elias, I 

Sarah, 

Lydia, 



twins, 



born April 26, 1750 

" Nov. 23, 1753 

" Dec. 7, I7S5 

" Aug. 31,1757 

" Aug.2S, 1759 

" Mar. S, 1762, 

" Mar. 30, 1764 



Wheat, Thomas and Mary. 



Mary, 

Abigail, 
Thomas, 
Sarah, 
PrisciUa, 
Nathaniel, 
Joseph, 
Josiah, 
. Lois, 
Hannah, 



born Oct. 29, 1746, d. 

" Aug. ij, 174S. 

" J"ly 7> '750- 

" April 23, 1752. 

" J"iy 3. 1754- 

" Jan. 20, 1756. 

" July iS, 1759. 

" Dec. iS, 1761. 

" June 22, 1765. 

" Feb. 16, 1767. 



Wheat Thomas and Sarah. 



Submit, 

Abigail Temple, 
Sarah, 
Mary, 



born July 27, 1769. 
" June 29, 1771. 

" J"iy s, 1773. 

" May 7, 1775. 



Wheat, Thomas,* Jun., and Ahigail. 



Benjamin, 
Benjamin, 
Lucy, 

♦Killed at Bunker Hill June i 



born Jan. i, 1771, d. 
" Jan. I, 1772. 
" J;i"- 17. 177-t- 



et. 24. 



Wheat, Solomon and S.\rah Ball. 
!^Iarried August 29, 1771. 



Solomon, 
Josiah Coolidge, 
Sarah, 



Iiornjuly 7,1773. 
" J'ln- iS, 1775. 
" June 1 1, 1777. 



Wheat, Joseph and Bridget (Powers) 
Farley. 

Married Oct. 10, 17S3. 

Nathaniel, born April 11, 1784. 



Wheat, Josiah and Sarah Keyes. 
Married April 17, 17SS. 



Sarah, 
Ruth, . 
Mary, 



born Mar. 14, 17S9. 
" April 24, 179!. 
" Dec. 29, 1792. 



Wheat, Solomon, Jun., and Hannah 

CUMINGS. 



Married Feb. 11, 1704. 



William, 

James, 

Hannah, 

Elizabeth, 

Alary Ann, 

Caroline, 



born June 13, 1794. 
" Oct. 10, 1796. 
" F"eb. 13, iSoo. 
" Nov. 19, 1S02. 
" Aug. 29, 1S06. 
" Oct. 27, 1809. 



Wheeler, Peter* and Hannah. 



Lucy, 

Alice, 

Ebenezer, 

Lebbeus, 

Jemima, 



born June i, 1744 
". Dec. I, 1745 

" .T"iy '5. 1748 

" Oct. IS, 1750 
" Aug. 15, 1756 



*Died Mar. 2S, 1772, a;t. 67. 



Wheeler Peter and Mehitable Jewett. 
Married March 19, 1751. 



Wheat, Solomon and Deborah Kimball. 



Polly Kimball, 
Samuel, 



born May 10, 1787. 
" Feb. S, 1790. 



Wheat, Solomon and Elizabeth Rogers- 



Jonathan, 

Timothy, 

Benjamin, 

Elizabeth, 

Joel, 

Daniel, 



born Oct. iS, 1795. 
" Mar. 25, 1797. 
" Aug. 10, 179S. 
" J'>'y S> 'Soo. 
" Oct. 2, 1S02. 
" April 7, 1S04. 



Mehitalile, 

Peter, 

Samuel, 

Esther, 

Hannah, 

Benjamin, 

Joseph, 

Jonatlian, 

Nathan, 



born Feb. 29, 1752. 

" Aug. 31, 1753 

" July iS. '7SS 

" Ji'"- 7. '75S 

" Oct. 12, 1760, 

" July 29, 1763 

" Nov. 15, 1766, 

" July 2, 176S 

" 'Slur. 19, 1774 



Wheeler, James and Mary Bltterkield. 
Married Nov. i, 1750. 



James, 

Reuben, 

Mary, 

John, 

Levincey, 

Abiezer, 

Zebulon, 



born Jan. 29, 175 

". Jan. 30, 1755 

" Nov. 2S, 1756 

" July 2. 175S 

" Aug. 20, 1760 

" Feb. 2, 1765 

" Jan. 20, 1768 



FAMILY RECtISTERS. 



39' 



Wheeler, Timothv and Mary Nevins. 
Married Sept. 8, 1773- 
Timothy, born Jan. 12, 1774. 



Mary, 
Simon, 



" Oct. 2, 1775. 
" July 23, 1777. 



Wheeler, Lebbeus* and Elizabeth 

Carter. 

Married Mar i, 1773. 

Lucretia, born April 3, 1774. 

*Died July 10, 177S, aet. 27. 

Wheeler, Th.\ddeus and Elizabeth 
Farmer. 
Married Oct. 17, 1769. 
Elizabeth, born July 22, 1770 

Thaddeus, " Oct. 10, 1773 

Minot, " May i6, 1777 

Theodore, " Jan. 7, 17S0 

Amos, " July 13,1783 

James, " Aug. 6, 17S5 

Benjamin, " Oct. 16, 1790 



Wheeler, Ehexezer* and Azubah 
Taylor. 
Married July 13, 17S0. 
Kc/.ia, born Sept. 17, 17S3. 

Jonathan Taylor, " Sept. 6, 17S7. 

*Died March 15, 1817, ast. 6S. 



Whiting, James and IIepzibah. 

Ilcpzibah, born July 8,1741. 

Whiting, James and MxVitY Dougl.\s. 

Married Aug. 2, 1757. 

James, born May 17, 1758. 



David, 



Mar. 18, 1760. 



Whiting, Benjamin and Grace. 

Frances Wentworth, born April 19, 1771. 

Martha, " Sept. 10, 1772. 

Grace, " April 16, 1775. 

Sarah, , " Nov. 23, 1776. 



Whiting, Capt. Leonard and Ann. 



Ann, 

Leonard, 

Mary, 

Grace, 

Abigail. 

Stephen, 



born Aug. 12, 1763. 
" Aug. 25, 1765. 
" Aug. 25, 1767. 
" Sept. !2, 1769. 
" Mar. 25, 1772. 
" Feb. 20, 1774. 



WiLLOUGHBY, JoHN* and Anna 
Chamberlain. 

Samuel, born Feb. 13, 1745. 

*Died Feb. 2, 1793, a;t. 8$. 



WiLLOUGHBY', JONAS and HaNNAH BaTES. 
Married Jul)' 10, 1760. 



Jonas, 
Oliver, 
David, 
William, 



born May 19, 1761. 
" June 2, 1764. 
" April 4, 1770. 
" June 17, 1774. 



WiLLOUGHBY', Samuel* and Elizabeth. 



Elizabeth, 
Samuel, 



born Aug. 27, 1774. 
" Mar. I, 1776. 



W'lLLOUGHBY', SaMIEL and M.YRY' Gol'ld. 



Mary, 

Ethan, 

Sarah, 

Beriah, 

Rehekah, 

Anna, 

Luther, 

Calvin, 

Washington, 

John, 

Joseph, 



born Aug. 3, 1777 

'* Feb. 26, 1779 

" Mar. 31, 1781 

" Feb. 20, 1733 

" May II, 17S5 

" May 1 8, 17S7 

" April 14, 1789 

" Mar. 14, 1791 

" April 13, 1793 

" Dec. 23, 1795 

" ^'^ov. 19- 1797 



*Died Oct. 26, 1832, aet. 86. 



WiLLOLGHBY, JoNAs.Jun., and Prudence 
Saunders. 



Married May 24, 1785 



Prudence, 

Jonas, 

Hannah, 

Anna, 



born Oct. 29, 17S7.' 
" Mar. 15, 1790. 
" May 7, 1792. 
" Mar. 22, 1795. 



WiLLOUGHBY, OLIVER and Sarah Baylev. 
Married Jan. 31, 17S7. 



Andrew, 
Oliver, 



born Aug. 3, 17S7. 
" July 17, 1789- 



WiLLOUGHBY, WiLLIAM and ReBECCA 

Adams. 



Married March 10, 1796. 



Rebecca, 
Samuel, 
William, 



born Dec. 12, 1797. 
" Oct. 2S, 1798. 
" April 12, i8oi. 



39- 



FAMILY REGISTERS. 



Whipple, Joseph and Esther Pierce 
Married Oct. 23, 1792. 

born Maj' 6, 1793 
" Feb. 19, 1795 



Joseph, 

John, 

Betsey, 

Amos, 
Charles, 
Rowena, 
Irena, 



Nov. I, 1796 
Sept. 12, 179S 
Mar. '7, iSoo 
Feb. 26, 1803 
Aug. I, iSo6 



Jonas, 

Lydia, 

Sally, 

Isaac, 

David, 

Asa, 

Betsey, 



Woods, Jonas and Lvdia IIobart. 
Married April 26, 1781. 

born Feb. 22, 1782 
" Aug. 31,1784 



Feb. S, 17S7 
Feb. 16, 1792 
July 21, 1794 
Aug. 20, 1796, 
June 8, iSoi 



Wood, Ensign William* and Susannah 
Wright. 



Married Aug. 23, 1778. 



Susannah, 

William, 

Kezia, 

Ebenezer, 

Henry, 

Abigail, 

Sally, 

Betsey, 

Hannah, 

Polly, 

Mark, 

Grace, 

Mark, 

Harriet, 



born Dec. 28, 1779 

" Sept. 24, 17S1 

" Feb. j6, 1783 

" Sept. 22, 1784 

" June 9, 17S6 

" Oct. 4, 17S7 

" April i:, 1789 

" Oct. 1, 1790 

" Jan. 19, 1702 

" Oct 

" Jan. 



" Oct 
*Dicd 1826, .-ct. 73. 



1-2. 1793 
22. 1795 
Oct. 21, 1706 
Feb. II, 1799 
12, 1S05, 



Worcester, Dea. Francis* and IIannah 

BOYNTON. 

Married Oct. 28, 1741. 

born Nov. 5, 1742. 



Abigail, 

Francis, 

Jemima, 

Hannah, 

Sarah, 

Beulah, 

Mary, 

Lydia, 

John, 

Hannah, 

Francis, 

Bathsheba, 



Worcester, Rev. Francis* and Abigail 
Carlton. 



June 16, 1744, d. 
Jan. 22, 1746. 
Jan. 3, 174S, d. 
June iS, 1749. 
Oct. 29, 1750. 
Dec. 13, 1751. 
April 26, 1753. 
Dec. 31, 1755. 
Jan. 3, 1757. 
Oct. 27, 1758. 
April 21, 1763. 



Married April iS, 1720. 



Francis, 

Jesse, 

Hannah, 

Samuel, 

Noah, 



born Mar. 30, 1721. 
" Sept. 5, 1722. 
" Oct. 7, 1724. 
" May 7, 1731. 
" Oct. 4. 1735. 



*Died Oct. 14, 17S3, xt. 85. 



Worcester, Capt. Noah* and Lvdia 
Taylor. 

Married Feb. 22, 1757. 

Noah, born Nov. 25, 1758. 

Jesse, " April 30, 1761. 

Lydia, " Nov. 8, 1762. 

Sarah, " Mar. 24, 1765. 

Leonard, " Jan. i, 1767. 

Thomas, " Nov. 22, 176S. 

Samuel, " Nov. i, 1770. 



Worcester, Capt 
Sh 



Noah 

ERWIN. 



and Hepzibah 



Married Sept. 30, 1772. 

Hepzibah, born June 12, 1773. 

William, " Dec. 11,1774,4. 

William, " Nov. 29, 1775. 

Abigail, '* June 29, 1777. 

David, " April 30, 1779, <i_ 

Ebenezer, " April 30, 17S1. 

Hannah, " iVLar. 17, 1783. 

David, " Mar. 25, 1785. 

James, " Feb. 23, 17SS. 

*Died Aug. 13, 1S17, a-t. 81. 



Worcester, Jesse* and Sarah P.\rker. 

Married June, 17S2. 



*Died Oct. 19, iSoo, a;t. 79. 



Jesse, 

Joseph Emerson, 

Sarah, 

Lydia. 

Abigail, 

Hannah, 

Leonard, 

Deborah, 

Martha, 

Taylor Gilman, 

John Newton, 

Henry Aiken, 

Samuel Thomas, 

Frederick Augustui 

David, 

*Died Jan. 



born Nov. 30, 17S2 

" Aug. 24, 17S4 

" Mar. 12, 1786 

" Feb. 22, 1789 

" Dec. 15, 1790 

" June 22, 1792 

" Mar. 22, 1794 

" ^ray 22, 1796 

" Oct. 24, 1797 

" April 6, 1709 

" Feb. 7, iSoi 

" Sept. 25, 1802 

" Aug. 30, 1804 

:, " Jan. 28, 1S07 

" April 13. iSoS 

20, 1S34, a-f. 72. 



A 



FAMILY REGISTEUS. 



393 



Worcester, Samvei. and Lois lioYNTON. 

Married Nov. 5. 177S. 
I^ois, horn Dec. 11, 1779. 



Mary. 
Samuel, 



Sept. iS, 1781 



Wright, Capt. JosHfA* and Abigail. 



losluia, 

Esther, 

Abigail, 

Abijali, 

I.emiu-l, 

Ruth, 

Lemuel, 

Uriah, 

Timothy, 

Sibbel, 

Susannah, 

Sarah, 



born Jan. 
" Nov. 



Nov. 
Auii- 
Oct. 



9, 1741. 

6, 1742. 
10, 1744. 
15, 1 74(1. 

2. 174*^. 
Fell. 13, 1751. 
Dec. 30, 1752. 
Dec. S, 1754. 
Sept. S, 1756. 
Feb. 13, 1759. 
Xov. 25, 1 761. 
^LiV 6, 1763. 



*Died Aui;-. 5, 1776, :ct. 60. 



Wright, Hkniamin and Maky. 



Henjamin, 
Abel, 

Ebenc/.cr W. 
Mary, 
Noah, 
|o.<eph, ) 
Mary, ) 
Hannah, 
Sibbel, 



liorn Mar. 2S, 
" Sept. 3. 
" Sept. S, 
" Feb. II, 
" Dec. 13, 

" Feb. q. 



1752- 
■754- 
1756. 
1 760. 
■763. 



Sept. 10, 
-Arav o. 



769. 



Wright, Benjamin, Jun., and Esthek 
Taylor. 

Married Dec. 15, 1774. 



Kezia Taylor, 

Benjamin Winckol, 

Esther, 

Jonathan, 

Salome, 

Jonathan Taylor, 

Salome, 

Mary, 

Mary, 



Wright, Uriah and Eunice Jewett. 
Married June 15, 17S0. 



L'riah, 

Eunice, 

Joshua, 

James Jewett, 

Margaret, 

Timothy, 

Josliua, 

Jean, 



born June 3, 17S1. 

" Mar. 19, 17S3. 

" Mar. 9, 17SS, d. 

" Mar. 25, 17S7. 

" J"l.v 5. •789- 

" April 13, 1791. 

" April 21, 1793. 

" May 26, 1795. 



\\rigiit, Samuel and Molly'. 



Samuel, 

Alice, 

Stepjien, 

Page, 

Jane, 

Betsey, 

Lutiier, 

Calvin, 



born Sept. 24, 177S. 

" Mar. 5, 17S1. 

" Sept. 19, 17S3. 

" April 30, 17S5. 

" Mar. 24, 17SS. 

" Sept. 19, 1789. 

" Jan- 7. '792- 

" Oct. iS, 1794. 



Wright, Ei,isn.\ and Anna Saundeks. 
Married Feb. 12, 17S4. 



born Feb. 20, 1776. 

" July 14, 177S. 

" April 15, 17S1. 

" Jniy 24. 1783. fl. 

" Xov. 2S, 17S4, d. 

" Aug. 19, 17S7. 

" Mar. 2S, 1790. 

" Aug. 31, 1792, d. 

" April 29, 1794. 



Anna, 

Hannah, 

Rachel, 

Elijah B., 

Mary, 

Mary, 

Elisha Winckol. 

William W., 

Leonard H., 

Ralph S., 



born Feb. 26, 17S5. 

" May 5, 1787. 

" May 20, 1791. 

" Mar. I, 1794. 

" .Tu'V 13. 1796, d- 

" Feb. 14, 1799. 

" Jan. 32, 1802. 

" Oct. 1S05. 

" Dec< 31, 1S07. 

" Aug. 30, iSio. 



YouNciM AN. Jauez and Susannah Powers. 
Married March 34, 17S5. 



Jabez, 

Noah, 

David, 

Susannah. 

Hannah, 



born June 36, i7Srt. 
" Sept. 14, 17SS. 
" Dec. 19, 1790. 
" Mar. 18, 1793. 
" April 4, 1795. 



Wright, Lemuel and >r\RV Johnson. 
Married March 13, 1781. 



Youngman, Stephen and Abigail Brown. 
Married June 16, 17S6. 



Ehenezer, 
William, 



horn April 4, 17S7. 
" Oct. 30, 17SS. 



Lemuel, 

Joshua, 

Noah, 

Miles Johnson, 

licnianiin, 



born Mar. iS, 17S2. 
" I-"eb. 29, 17S4. 
" Jan. 13, 17S7. 
■' Mar. 13, 1790. 
'• Mav 14, 1702. 



EKRATA AND COIIRECTIOXS. 

Tlic iTudcr will please note and cfirrccl liic lollowiii-i' errors r 
Paae i;U, liiK' 11. Cor "He" read Hon. •Mienjainin Tool." 
1.")!, line ;;. Cor " L'apt. Moor" read ••Capl. Moors " 
'2[('>, Ijotloni line, for '• 177."." read '• 177.S." 

iMl, line i:; from liottoni, for "May !'.">, 1870" read ".\nii-. 20. 1S71. 
J 242, line 5 from top, for " 18.")8" read " 175S." 

2()1, line 18. add " Geor.i^-e Moore, representative, I87!t." 
:314, line 4, for "November 28" read "November 2.'>." 
A'A, nth line from bottom, for "Baker" read "Parker." 
">C)0, KJlli line from bottom, for ".Vbert " read *• AUxM't." 
;!(!!, 18th line from toji. for "C'liai'les" read " (icoi-iic" 
"lil. 2(Mli line from bottom, for " llcni'v !-." r<'ad " Heni-v N." 



: r 



%'27 



AMHERS T. ^. 




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ivi A P> 



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E.J.COLBURN, HOLLIS,N.H. 



-V.^,iS, . J^..^7^<'^^"T 



$i£^^ 



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